More than two weeks have passed since the August 8th flooding in Taiwan, and the cleanup continues apace. Responding to the Headquarters’ mid-term and long-term rehabilitation plan to rebuild homes and schools for the survivors, Tzu Chi volunteers in some 40 countries, including Singapore, had taken to the streets to raise money for the recovery effort in Taiwan.

Volunteers from all across Singapore returned to the branch office for a pre-event briefing in 22 Aug. (Photo: Law Sook Fong)

Volunteers in the Southeast zone prayed piously for the flood survivors before setting off for the street collection.  (Photo: Lim Chee Wah)

Seeing the public’s overwhelming response, 68-year-old volunteer Han Sheng Chou decided to put in more efforts regardless of his sore legs. (Photo: Chua Teong Seng)

Seeing a toddler walking towards her, volunteer Tan Bee Peng squatted down so that the child could drop her donation in. (Photo: Law Sook Fong)

A dharma master passing by the Kuan Yin Thong Hood Cho Temple heeded the call to send love to the Taiwan survivors. (Photo: Chua Teong Seng)

Stall vendors in the wet markets too did their part to help. (Photo: Douglas Goh)

Care recipient Mr Sun was happy when he sees the volunteers turned up at the Eunos Market. The father was happy to let his daughter contributes to cause. (Photo: Teo Chai Guan )

A pair of young siblings at Chong Pang Market answered the volunteers’ calls and donated the loose change they have. (Photo: Yong Keah Pei)

Warm gestures as passersby stopping by despite the shower was what keeping the volunteers high-spirited throughout the day.  (Photo: Chua Teong Seng)

Grandma Yang, a former Leprosy patient, donating her money earned via selling tissues on the street. (Photo: Chan Wai Hoe)

Tzu Chi Singapore is one of the few local organizations initiating large-scale fundraising across the island nation. In the afternoon of August 22, a pre-event briefing was held at the local branch office. Deeply concerned with the progress of preparation, CEO Brother David Liu specially took time off from his schedule to address more than 260 volunteers in attendance via teleconference from Tzu Chi Malacca.

“A wealthy country with hardly any disaster, Singapore is deemed a ‘heaven on earth’ by many.  Although we rarely have a chance to witness or experience a disaster, we need to realize that a crisis may occur anytime. I urge you all to ‘Cherish every opportunity to give and regard the streets as your spiritual training grounds’.” said Brother Liu.

Although most of the volunteers already had fundraising experience from last year’s street collection in aid of Asia’s twin disasters, a number of them are new volunteers who are first-timers. To better prepare the team, humorous scenes showing the do’s and don’t’s of fundraising were enacted in a fun skit to highlight the Tzu Chi spirit of courtesy and respect.     

As it had not been easy to obtain the street collection permit, Brother Liu encouraged everyone, especially the new volunteers, to appreciate the opportunity to participate in the drive and reminded all to be humble and respectful at all times.          

Neighbourhoods as spiritual training grounds 

The volunteers set off just before dawn the next day (23 August) to catch up with the morning crowds at markets and temples across the islands. The afternoon batch then took the baton stationing close to crowded bus stops, MRT stations, hawker centres, and shopping malls, hoping to raise as much funds as possible. 

“Let’s wish the survivors a speedy recovery and may peace be with them soon.” At the Southeast zone, zone leader Lim Chwee Lian led her team through a prayer before setting off to their designated points. Among the volunteers was first-time coordinator Chong Choon Yew. 

The engineer, who considered himself an amateur in coordinating task, had no confident for the job initially. Images of the typhoon devastation and Master Cheng Yen’s appeal to volunteers worldwide on Da Ai TV (Tzu Chi’s satellite television) had however spurred him to take on the responsibility. With determination and believing in “every volunteer counts”, he has managed to mobilize nearly a hundred volunteers in his zone within a few days!

Standing at the pavement outside Kuan Yin Thong Hood Cho Temple in Waterloo Street, 68-year-old volunteer Hang Sen Chew called out to the passersby, “Please show your kindness. Help the typhoon survivors!” The senior arrived at 6 o’clock in the morning and has been soliciting with his team since 7. Although his legs were aching after standing for hours, Brother Hang did not mind about it at all when he sees many people responded generously to their solicitation.     

The senior volunteer thanked almost every single person who walked passed him regardless of whether he or she had donated or not. Moved by his sincerity, many turned back to donate and those who had donated came back to give more. Some even offered to buy drinks for him and the volunteers seeing how hard they were working. Brother Hang was very touched by that.      

 Love transcends all

Tzu Chi’s care recipient Mr Sun had left home early in the morning to Eunos Market that day. With him was a bamboo bank adopted from the Foundation and her daughter with a piggy bank in her arm.

Mr. Sun, a former prisoner for 19 years, has always regarded Tzu Chi people as “the kindest persons (he) had ever met”.  When he heard that Tzu Chi is kicking off its fundraising that day, he thought he should seize the opportunity to give back. As he saw the volunteers emerged from the crowd, he urged his daughter to put the coins into the volunters’ collection box and at the same time took out a letter he wrote. It was to encourage the typhoon survivors to overcome their grief and gather strength to stand up again. The volunteers were touched to see a Singaporean showing heartfelt concern to the Taiwanese people.

At the northern part of the island, Member of Parliament Mr K Shanmugam was officiating over the Chong Pang Emergency Preparedness Day while Tzu Chi volunteers were raising funds at the nearby buzzing Chong Pang Market. The joyous meeting of both parties resulted in Mr Shanmugam donating his love towards the Taiwan survivors.

At the market, resident Ms Lin Li Ling was queuing for her breakfast when she spotted the fundraising team. Sensing her intention to make donation, a volunteer went forward to stand in her place to allow her to come forward to contribute personally.

The Taiwanese, who immigrated to Singapore upon her marriage, was overwhelmed with sorrows after knowing the destruction brought about by Typhoon Morakot. She was glad that Tzu Chi and other charitable organizations are actively reaching out to the flood survivors. Ms Lin hoped that her countrymen would remain strong in face of the calamity.  

Unlike the Sichuan earthquake or the flooding in Myanmar caused by Cyclone Nargis last year, the Taiwan flood disaster caused by Typhoon Morakot had apparently received fewer reports by local press. Nevertheless, Singaporeans are still aware of the severe damage inflicted on Taiwan’s land.

There, an unknown lady Samaritan passed by and returned with a thousand dollars note donation, confident that the money will reach the flood survivors intact. There were also parents taking the chance to educate their children to harbor compassion by letting them place their donations personally.

The day-long street collection started from 7 in the morning and lasted late into the evening, ending at 9pm. Throughout the entire day, enduring rain and shine, regardless of praises or criticisms, the volunteers walked into the streets with profound humbleness, bowing low with respect for every single acts of kindness. Together with the collective efforts of over 600 volunteers, every empty collection boxes were returned fully filled with love from people from all walks of life, raising close to 20 thousands Singapore dollars, solidly proving that great love really transcends all.

For updates on Tzu Chi’s relief for Typhoon Morakot survivors, go to www.us.tzuchi.org