About Tzu Chi > The Origins of Tzu Chi Singapore
The Origins of Tzu Chi Singapore
 
   
The seedling of Tzu Chi compassionate mission, with its origin from Taiwan quietly sprouted in Singapore in year 1987. In the early days of Tzu Chi Singapore, we had Sister Liu Jing Lian from Taiwan and along with a few volunteers, they began to visit the needy and poor in the local community. Along the way, many individuals were inspired to join in the compassionate work of Tzu Chi.
     
         
    On 15 August 1991, 40 volunteers from Singapore went on a root-searching trip to Tzu Chi Headquarter in Hualien, Taiwan for the first time. This has brought about the official registration of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society (Singapore Branch) two years later in September 1993. After which, the branch office put in much effort to develop the missions of helping the poor and inspiring the rich in Singapore.

        
           
   

Many thanks to Dharma Master Hui Qi for sparing a space for Tzu Chi brothers and sisters for meetings and activities at the Bao Guang Temple (Poh Kwan Foh Tang) in the early days.

       
           
    In July 1996, when Tzu Chi Taiwan was about to enter its fourth decade of establishment, it was set to be a decade of “Develop the depth of Tzu Chi Culture”. Progressing along with the development of Tzu Chi Culture, the Singapore Tzu Chi Cultural Centre was set up in Balmoral Road with aims to spread Tzu Chi culture and Master Cheng Yen’s humanitarian ideology. In order to increase public awareness of the foundation, the branch office has launched many avenues to reach out to the general public such as participation in the Annual World Book Fair, setting up of Tzu Chi Singapore website, and translation of Tzu Chi publications into English for the local English literates.

        
           
   

In August 1998, the Singapore branch was officially renamed Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation. In December the same year, the branch office was relocated to Trengganu Street in Chinatown. The new office had thus become the spiritual home for local Tzu Chi people. In early 1999, Master Cheng Yen sent one of her disciples, Sister Zhang Hong Lin from Taiwan to help in the development of the Singapore branch. Tzu Chi Cultural Centre was then renamed as Still Thoughts Cultural Services (Singapore). In 2004, Jingsi Books & Café was set up adjacent to the Chinatown office as a retail outlet to continue promoting the various publications of Tzu Chi.

        
           
   

In early  2003, Mr David Liu, the CEO of Tzu Chi Malacca branch was appointed by Master Cheng Yen to hold a concurrent post in Singapore branch.

Abiding the Buddha’s spirit of “Great Mercy even to Strangers, Great Compassion for All”, and following the principle of “Respecting life”, Tzu Chi people in Singapore strive to carry out the “Four Missions” and “Eight Footsteps” of Tzu Chi in the local community. Besides giving financial assistance and spiritual care to the needy, in 1999, the branch office also reach out to HIV patients and their families by providing them with support and concern. The Tzu Chi Free Clinic was then set up in August 2004 to serve the senior citizens and Tzu Chi’s aid recipients in Singapore.

        
           
   

Since early 2000, the Singapore Branch had extended its Medical mission by holding free clinic service twice a year for the sick and poor in neighbouring Indonesian islands such as Batam, Bintan, Karimun etc. To date, more than 20,000 locals have benefited from the service. The free clinic has also inspired many local Chinese to join in as Tzu Chi volunteers, which led to the establishment of a liaison office in Batam in year 2005.

        
           
   

The Singapore branch office was officially relocated to its new premise at Pasir Ris in October 2005. The Tzu Chi Continuing Education Centre was launched two months later in December 2005. It was launched with the objective of having another avenue to facilitate the spreading of Tzu Chi culture and humanities via classes such as Flower Arrangement, Chinese Calligraphy, Tea Arts and Sign Language to the general public.

At the same time, activities such as inspirational talks and beach cleaning exercises were held. On top of that, there is the ongoing monthly sharing session and recycling activities with recycling points set up in different parts of the island. All of which was aimed to encourage community participation and to enhance the sense of neighborhood cohesion.

All these years, Tzu Chi Foundation helps to bridge many caring people that have hectic work schedule to render their services to the needy. In their blue and white uniforms, the Tzu Chi volunteers reach out to the darker corners of the community, bringing love and hope to the sufferings. With a vision of “purifying minds, harmonious society and a world free of disaster and suffering”, these volunteers had left beautiful footprints on their lives as well as many others that they’ve touched.