Photo by Pua Phoo Toong
That was what the Tzu Chi Singapore volunteers endeavoured to do at the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) Fair held from 24 to 26 February at Singapore EXPO – to create environmental awareness and promote Tzu Chi’s DA.AI Technology creations.
Though challenging to draw attention amidst other 157 booths, the volunteers were determined to do their best as it presents a good opportunity to encourage fairgoers to adopt Earth-friendly approach when they travel overseas (by carrying portable utensils) and practice ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ in their daily lives.
Spokesperson from the crowd
Mdm Doreen Cady was among those who are glad to be introduced to DA.AI Technology’s “magical” creations at the fair. She was convinced by what she saw and showed her support for Tzu Chi’s environmental effort by purchasing several items such as the portable chopsticks, containers and T-shirts for her husband, daughter and son, knowing that the sales would go to the charity to help the needy.
Hailing from an eco-conscious family, Mdm Doreen’s daughter is also an environmental scientist currently working in London. The green enthusiast herself was therefore able to appreciate Tzu Chi’s effort and hoped that more of such awareness could be spread to the communities to reach out to more heartlanders. Quickly putting hope to action, she told her lady companion, “See, this shirt is made from plastic bottles!” and even approached passersby to promote the green garments to them. She felt that environmental workshops should be conducted to educate more people and expressed interest to get to know more about Tzu Chi’s recycling effort, saying that she will make a trip to one of the 21 islandwide recycling points to find out more.
More green supporter spotted
When Mr Malcom Chen, 67, learnt that the DA.AI Technology eco-T shirt has anti-odour function, he was amazed and thought of recommending it to the senior citizen cycling club he participates in to purchase it as their club uniform. An environmental activist himself, Mr Chen leads a group of 16 to 35 year-old indigenous youths in Sarawak, Malaysia to clean up local rivers regularly.
When the volunteers learnt that the Singaporean’s next goal is to promote recycling activities so that the youths would stay away from unwholesome habits and turn their attention to care for Mother Earth, they informed him about Tzu Chi’s community recycling to which he said he will pay a visit to see what he could learn and adapt into his initiative.
“I bought a round collar DA.AI Technology T-shirt last year and I came purposely today to see if there is any new item being offered this time,” said Mr Chen Zheng Xing, who later bought a multi-purpose scarf.
Mr Chen works in a bank that advocates environmental protection, where employees were encouraged to bring their own mug and avoid using disposable Styrofoam cup. To further cultivate the habit of paper recycling among his colleagues, he specially placed a box beside the trash bin to collect used papers for recycling.
Searching for Tzu Chi
The first thing Guo Cai Yun did when she landed in Singapore Changi Airport from her hometown Sarawak was to head for the Singapore EXPO “to look for Tzu Chi”. As her colleagues did not tell her the exact location of the booth, she walked helplessly in the crowd looking out for Tzu Chi until she saw the familiar blue uniform and she took initiative to establish the contact.
Ms Guo recounted to the volunteers her first encounter with Tzu Chi early this year when her new colleague invited her to Tzu Chi Singapore’s Year-End Blessing Ceremony and how the many sufferings and disasters shown in the Foundation’s annual reports have moved her. “My heart went out to the stricken people, really. Sitting there made me realize I am so blessed,” she said in a choked voice. She signed up as a Tzu Chi donating member with her husband right then and has been longing to visit Tzu Chi again.
Now that her wish had come true, she was also happy to witness for herself the DA.AI Technology creations and also being introduced to a volunteer who lives in the same neighbourhood as her. “I can’t wait to volunteer now,” enthused the kind-hearted Tzu Chi donor.
Sweet responsibilities
The three-day appearance at the NATAS Fair and the positive responses simply goes to show that while fairgoers come to look for tour packages, the DA.AI Technology products could be carefully pitched to suit their needs – the apparels are comfortable and lightweight, while the utensils are easy to carry and suitable for travelling. While complementing touring needs, carrying the items also brings across the message of sparing a thought for Gaia in everything we do.
This is Tzu Chi Singapore’s third time participating in the NATAS Fair. A total of 208 shifts of volunteers had been mobilized to support the booth set up and manning.
“We just do what we need to do and treat it as a learning process,” said Sister Wang Mei Juan of her maiden coordination task with fellow volunteers Chiu Ming Hui, Tay Gek Choo, and Christina Oh. “The plus side is we get to know more brothers and sisters from other zones and our cadres responsible for promoting Tzu Chi humanities and culture can work together and forge closer bond.”
Although Sister Christina Oh had encountered setbacks and challenges during the pre-event planning, she was determined as she could “empathize with Master Cheng Yen’s feeling of bearing the responsibility while the task offers excellent learning opportunity and interpersonal exposure”. The keen learner even prides herself for snapping heaps of pictures for archive and for future reference.
“Ever seen plastic bottles being made into shirts?” was the tagline the volunteers utter to capture the interest of the fairgoers and bring them to the Tzu Chi booth to show them the eco garments as well as explaining to them Tzu Chi’s philosophy of environmental protection. (Photo by Boey Cherk How)
Tzu Chi volunteers explaining to fairgoers of how used materials could be recollected and made into useful items and the profits from these are channelled back to charity. (Photo by Benson Chai)
The booth also displays a range of portable utensils to meet the needs for traveling. Picture shows volunteers engaging and introducing them to the fairgoers. (Photo by Hoh Hoong Koan)
dm Doreen Cady (left), who advocates environmental protection, was surprised and glad to discover the DA.AI Technology booth in the fair. On the right is her lady companion. (Photo by Benson Chai)
Singaporean Malcolm Chen devotes his time in leading a group of indigenous youth in Sarawak, Malaysia to do river cleaning. He hopes to guide them to do recycling, let them experience it and care for the Earth and further shun bad habits. (Photo by Teoh Moh Seng)
Mr Chen Zheng Xing sharing with one of the writers on the environmentally friendly effort implemented in his office and how employees were encouraged to bring their own mugs and cultivate earth-friendly habits. (Photo by Teoh Moh Seng)
A group of volunteers having a briefing with Sister Wang Mei Juan (second from right) spurring everyone to encourage more fairgoers to show their concern for Mother Earth besides promoting the products. (Photo by Boey Cherk How)
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