1st activity in Tzu Chi Malacca

Well, at 20th May 2007, it is just a memorable day for me as i just joined Tzu Chi for the 1st activity. A lots of us will think that, well, it is jz nothing special. But for me, it is a special day for me as this is the 1st activity in Tzu Chi after the recycling sorting as i mention in the prevoius post ( i think is almost 11 years ago).

So, what activity had i joined? Well, i joined a home visit to Tebong Aboriginal Village (a.k.a Kampung orang asli). Tebong Aboriginal Village Home Visit is one of the regualr activities organized on the 2nd Sunday of every month,1:00pm - 4:00pm. Well, because of the pack schedule, this home visit had pospond to the 3rd sunday of May and i was given the chance to join them.

As i mention just now, I was alone, i mean that i went there alone without knowing any of them before hand. lai yee, was the one surpose to join me for this activity but at last, because of the place is so far away from town and her farther not allowling her to follow some1 unknown.

Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth are the one involved in this activity. As our uni do not have this group of people, thus we are seldom expose to Tzu Chi's activities as none of us know about what is happening in Tzu Chi. Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Malaysia has spread to more than ten local universities as well as over 30 private institutions of higher learning, but not in our university. Why so? May be not much of us know about Tzu Chi, especially most of our university mates are english educated, and Tzu Chi are more known in chinese society. This group of people are mostly involved in healthy and meaningful charity activities and organize monthly activities and also regularly participate in spiritual retreats. They clean beaches, participate in recycling and provide charity services to handicap centers and old folks' homes.

Well, will our university has a group of people joinning Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth in future?

Back to the home visit. 2 days before the activity, i received a call from Tzu Chi and hope laiyee and i can join them to help up the pharmacist and doctor that will be following along to give free medical care to those aboriginal. But, on the day of activity, i cant find any of the pharmacist and i am not given any of their contact. Anyway, i join the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth for the activities.

When we reach the aboriginal village, it is just as what i thought how the village should look like. Their house is so simple with atap and four walls, without electricity supply. The children there all are so dirty (i mean they dont have the practice to change their clothes and take their baths everyday). They not used to wear slippers and most of them walk around with bare feet. This is one of the problems where most of the children are suffering from skin diseases.

So, what are our missions over there? Our missions are to educate them and have fun with them. As i know, this is the 8th visit the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth had organised. As compare to the 1st few times, the children there become more merry and not so shy when facing public. For their education part, the children become better as the parents are being educate to send their children to go to school. Some of them are now sent to school nearby for education and there are a few of them even know mandarin. Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth used to educate them about basic personal hygeine but seems like not really work for them. May be they think that is too heachache for them to follow. I think extra education should be given to ensure a better living.

At there, we are having some games with the children while the doctor and pharmacist are giving free medical care to the villagers. We also teach them to learn some basic english words and also alphabets. I think most of the children are enjoy and so am i. I feel that i am so lucky as compare to them where they have no complete basic living components, while i had those they dont have. I have to be more thankful and appreciate to my parents and to all i had now.

In this activity, i have no chance to take any of the photos because i left my camera inside the car. However, i searched this photo in one of the article in Tzu Chi. The photo below shows the medical care given by 1 of the doctor volunteer.