An interview with Sister Lim Chwee Lian about her experience in Sri Lanka. Sister Chwee Lian is a Home Visit volunteer and also a Documentary volunteer with Tzu Chi Singapore. She writes news for the Branch’s official website and magazines.

Q: Is this your first time to Sri Lanka? If not, when was your last trip there?

No, this is my 7th time (as at January 2008) to Sri Lanka after the Tsunami in December 2004. My last trip there was in September 2007 with Sister Goh Eng Eng to assist in the local home visit work while my second last was in April 2006 for the handing over of Great Love village housing to the tsunami victims.

Q: What do you think of the country?

A: Sri Lanka is a beautiful country; the people I met are gentle and polite.  However, due to political and historical reasons, there are civil wars and unrest in the country affecting the economic development, its economy is at least 40 years behind Singapore.  There is severe unemployment especially in the remote province such as Hambantota.

Q: How different are the Home Visit works from the ones here in Singapore? Do they appear much difficult, given the scarce resources in the country?

A: It is very different there. In Hambantota, the unemployment rate is more than 30%. According to statistic, the population in Hambantota is about 520,000. Unemployment population is about 240,000.  Therefore, there is severe poverty in this remote south east province of Sri Lanka.

Majority of the homes we visited are really in deep poverty with food stock only sufficient for one day consumption. Their living condition is beyond my imagination, there is no wall, no windows, no door, mud floor, no water supply etc. 

There are very little social and government support to the poor and sick. It was really devastating. Though the education and medical service are free, some of them might not have transport fee to seek for cure. The health care service is very backdated and insufficient. 

Q: How do you find the responses of the local recipients to Tzu Chi’s aid? Any individuals, families, or stories that have left a deep impression on you? Is it true that the Sri Lankan are much easily contented?

A: Yes, in fact each individual cases has left deep imprint in my mind, their poverty, their suffering, their dignity, every home visit is a learning opportunity to me. I’ve learned how fortunate I am to be born in Singapore, I am really grateful to what I have and the people who make my life so rich and meaningful and I am able to do what I want to do. But in Sri Lanka, most of the people have to take whatever destiny takes them to.

Q: Reading from the news, we know there are quite a few families that had lost the father / mother to the 2004 Tsunami. How did the remaining members cope with their life? Any thoughts seeing the single mothers raising their children, given you yourself is a mother too?

A: In fact, those affected by Tsunami are considered “fortunate” as compared to those who are not affected by the disaster.  Most of the victims have been settled into the houses built by many NGOs who flocked in after the disaster, but many people do not have a decent place to live in, they live in hut made up of coconut leafs and mud wall, some don’t even have walls. Earning a living in Hambantota is hard with not many job opportunities. 

Q: Any other experience you would like to share with us about the trip?

A: I am grateful to all the people who make me what I am today and I will like to help the people of Sri Lanka whatever I can.