On 26 October, a group of 29 volunteers from Tzu Chi Singapore visited the Sri Lankan Base Hospital Kahawatta and met up with the local medical team and volunteers for a two-day free clinic (26 – 27 October 2012). Unlike previous sessions, only ophthalmology services such as cataract surgery and vision correcting glasses were provided. At the end of the two days, 296 cataract patients are able to see the light once more and view the world with their newly regained vision.

Since the start of the civil war in Syria in March 2011, an estimated 350,000 of its people have fled to neighbouring countries in search of peace and security. Jordan has received the most. Most are living in tents in the desert, subject to sweltering heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter. Jordan is struggling to find the resources to feed, clothe and care for these people.

To many Primary six pupils who have just finished their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), 14 October (Sunday) should be a day for them to recuperate and relax. To primary school pupils of other grades, this should be the last Sunday that they could stay home studying hard for the coming year-end examination. However, there were 11 pupils from primary six and four who chose to follow their teachers that day on a special outing.

In the afternoon of 23 September, when Brother David Liu came over to Singapore to have the launch of his new Book ‘Journey of the Heart’, the Singapore translation team (with 11 of them participated in the subtitle translation of Da Ai drama series ‘The Raindew Waltz’) took the opportunity to hold a gathering and at the same time, have an interactive session with the real protagonist.

An 18-month-old Malaysian baby girl, Zheng Huixin, was diagnosed to suffer from congenital biliary atresia shortly after she was born. Fortunately, with the generous donations from the public and Tzu Chi volunteers’ care and company along the way, a successful live transplant was performed on her at the National University Hospital.

Tzu Chi volunteer Raymond Koh used to work at a butcher shop and for more than 20 years in the past, he had to kill many animals every day. It is totally inconceivable that he has now quit his job as a butcher, become a vegetarian and even taken a vow in public to quit his tens of years of habit.

“Incorrigible, Rotten and Hopeless” are the three words Sister Angelina Lee used to describe her ninth brother Lee Teck Hock’s past behaviours.

But now, at age 52, Lee Teck Hock is a changed man. Everyone in his family is extremely delighted to note his drastic change. No one has ever imagined that he could change for good after so many years of bad deeds he had done and the pain he had caused to his family. “Now, it is a 360 degrees total change in him,” said his youngest sister.

On 16 August, Prof Tseng Guo-fan, Vice President of Tzu Chi University, Dr Yang Jen-hung, Dean of TCU’s School of Medicine, alongside a staff member from the University’s Office of International Affairs were in Singapore for an exchange session with the School of Medicine of National University of Singapore. Tzu Chi Singapore took the opportunity to invite them to give a medical talk and TCU student recruitment briefing at Jing Si Hall.