At the end of the gathering, Marian asked me to tell our fellow home visit volunteers that although others may still laugh at her or give her cold shoulders, she is certain she will never walk alone because she knows Tzu Chi people will always be there for her.

It has been a routine for nurse-Tzu Chi volunteer Chew Lai Hoe to be here in the park for morning exercises together with her group of friends. However, something was different on this day…

A team of television personalities and actresses from Da Ai television station arrived in Singapore from East Malaysia on 7th December after staging three promotional shows in Miri, Kuching, and Sibu in the state of Sarawak. On 8th December, they staged a show at the Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre, and drew a crowd of around 1,100.

"Let us welcome you with our clapping hands, welcoming you to Tzu Chi. Your smiles are sweet and adorable, we wish you happiness every day…”

With this familiar Tzu Chi welcome song ringing in the air, Tzu Chi Teenager Chua Jin Chou, 10, and his 4-year-old brother stand promptly at the main entrance of Jing Si Hall, greeting the “Friends of the Heart Lotus” (Tzu Chi’s alternative name for AIDS patients under its care) with a cheerful smile and handing out shoe bags respectfully with both hands.

It has been 100 days since Typhoon Morakot devastated Southern Taiwan. On November 15, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Great Love Estate in Shanlin Township, Kaohsiung County is held with the attendance of President Ma Ying-jeou, Premier Wu Den-yih, Governor Yang Chiu-hsing of Kaohsiung County and Vice President Lin Bi-yu of the Tzu Chi Foundation.

The 2 days 1 night Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class Camp was held on 14 and 15 Nov. Besides the 80 participants ranging from 13 to 17 years-old, there were also several class graduates who took up appointments like programme coordinator, emcees and etc, adding a meaningful dimension to the activity.

Following the successful organization of the first free health screening and medical consultation at Bukit Panjang Plaza last November, Tzu Chi Singapore was again invited by Senja-Cashew Community Centre’s Women Executive Committee (WEC) and its Zone 3 Residents Committee to organize the service for the constituency on 8 Nov 2009.

At the entrance of Hambantota’s Great Love Village leading to Tzu Chi National School, one would often get to see a white figure that travels alone. Upon reaching her destination at the Tzu Chi Clinic Center, nurse Pathmalatha will begin preparing for her day’s work. The clinic patients are mainly women and young children below age of five, and Pathmalatha had been contributing relentlessly towards the well being of these women and young children of the village.