“I will take part in recycling even if I need a walking stick to move about.” Proudly declared Halijah, an energized and courageous Malay lady whom was once a care recipient of Tzu Chi. Picture: Halijah and son Hafizi sorting out recyclable items with care.(Photo: Chai You Leong)

Halijah invited her brother who runs a hawker stall to stop work for a day to help her to set up a Lontong stall in support of the Tzu Chi Great Love Charity Fair 2009. (Photo: Vicky Yeow)

Being a first timer, Halijah first observed how Tzu Chi volunteers engage themselves with residents, and later began to share her personal experience in recycling work. (Photo: Tee Kim Wooi)

Sister Siew Bee Hong (right), who has accompany the family for about a year, praises Halijah for her perseverance and strong will. And Halijah was gratified with Sister Siew’s help in giving her son free tuition. (Photo: Tee Kim Wooi)

Even with spinal injury, Halijah took part in the recycling work. According to her, she felt energized after every recycling activity she took part in, and she treasures every opportunity to work with Tzu Chi volunteers who are like her family members. (Photo: Chai You Leong)

Halijah and Hafizi (third from left) joined the volunteers in the warm-up exercise. (Photo: Ng Sherlin)

Halijah shows her gratitude by submitting her application to be a Tzu Chi member and pledge a sum of monthly donation to the foundation to join the path of great love. (Photo: Ng Sherlin)

“Good Morning.”

“Good Morning. Thank you for joining us.”

Under a tent erected at the car park, Halijah smilingly received the volunteer vests from a Tzu Chi volunteer. After the three children who came with her each wore one, she put on hers as well as a surgical mask and quickly swung into action, sorting out the different types of recyclable items brought in by the Taman Jurong residents earlier in the morning.

16 months ago, Halijah visited the Taman Jurong Community Club (TJCC) for a free health screening co-organized by Tzu Chi Foundation Singapore Branch and TJCC with a spinal injury caused during a work accident. It was later revealed that, being a widow, she has to bring up three sons alone, the eldest being intellectually disabled and the youngest studying in Primary 6. 

As Halijah was unable to work due to her injury, her family quickly went into serious financial crisis. After assessing her situation, Tzu Chi Singapore immediately offered her family financial assistance and helped her to apply to Community Development Council (CDC) welfare assistance. Tzu Chi volunteers continued their care by visiting her family regularly and rendering her emotional support, even after CDC took over the financial aid.

“Tzu Chi volunteers visited us almost every fortnight. There were many of them, sometimes as many as 7 to 8. Their visits warmed my heart,” she recalled.

The continuous companionship and encouragement touches Halijah so deeply that she was determined to contribute back. Last January, she convinced her brother who runs a hawker stall to stop work for a day to help her prepare ingredient and man a Lontong stall at the Tzu Chi Great Love Charity Fair 2009. She also started participating in Tzu Chi’s monthly recycling activity a few months ago.   

A week before the Joint Health Screening and Recycling Activity scheduled on July 5, 2009, Tzu Chi volunteers went around the Taman Jurong estates for a door-to-door publicity, and was spotted by Halijah while looking out from her window. She felt that there must be a Tzu Chi activity nearby and brought her son along to find out. The next moment, the mother and son were among the team to promote the activity.

Being a first timer, Halijah carefully observed how Tzu Chi volunteers engage themselves with residents in sharing the benefits of and personal experience in doing recycling work. Not long after, she became an important “spokesperson” in promoting and publicity, especially to Malay residents.   

Early in the morning of the actual event, Halijah, accompanied by her son Hafizi and his two friends Aloysius and Barthi, reported to the recycling point at TJCC. The Halijah Family was seen happily sorting out recyclable items under the tent despite the warm and humid weather.    

When being concerned by volunteers about her health and spinal injury, she insisted, “I don’t mind, I want to take part in this great event, even if I have to use a walking stick to help me move about.” In fact, according to her, she felt energized after every recycling activity she participated in, and treasures every opportunity to work with Tzu Chi volunteers. “They are like my family members.” She added. ”I am very happy, I don’t feel tired, I felt enlightened and the feeling is extraordinary.”

Perhaps it was due to her positive attitude and self blessing; she felt extremely well that day and did not need the walking stick to move around.

After accompanying them for about a year, Sister Siew Bee Hong praises Halijah for her perseverance and strong will. ”I have learnt a lot from her, despite the difficulties and poor health condition, Halijah remains optimistic and cheerful.”   

As an educator herself, Sister Bee Hong volunteered to give Hafizi, the adopted son of Halijah who is in his Primary 6, free tuition. As Hafizi was adopted from Malaysia, he had difficulty coping with schoolwork, and these troubled Halijah deeply. She felt greatly relief and touched when Sister Bee Hong offered to help him improve on his study.

The tuition lasted for months and has to come to an end as Sister Bee Hong will be leaving Singapore for overseas study for two years beginning in August. To express his gratitude, Hafizi came to the Health Screening and Recycling event with a gift in appreciation to Sister Bee Hong. The two warmly embraced and greeted each other farewell, touching many at the scene.    

Gratified by the care and concern Tzu Chi has given to her when she was down and helpless, Halijah also wished to show her gratitude and decided to contribute back to the society. This day, at the same place and similar event when she first met Tzu Chi, she submitted her application to be a Tzu Chi member and pledged a sum of monthly donation to the foundation to join the path of great love.  

With her perseverance and courage, Halijah has brought her family hope and pride, most importantly, the love for others that lead her to live her life to the fullest.