Tzu Chi's social work officer Karen Lim explaining the purpose and history of the prison visits to volunteers new to the service. (Photo by Yong Keah Pei)
On 19 November 2011, Tzu Chi Singapore was invited to the Prison Volunteers Appreciation Luncheon organized by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) at the Bliss Garden Restaurant in Expo. This was the second year Tzu Chi has been acknowledged by the SPS, along with representatives from 64 other organizations and 160 volunteers.
The 160 volunteers are from different organizations which provide Incare, Halfway Care and AfterCare services for inmates. Many of these motivated and passionate volunteers have been volunteering in the prisons for more than three years, some even up to 20 years.
The greatest honour given during the luncheon was the Long Service Award conferred to Elder Goh Ewe Kheng, the Founding Elder of the Church of Singapore. Elder Goh has taught at monthly meetings held by the Prison Fellowship Singapore for more than 50 years and continues to do so. His passion was much admired as shown by the warm round of applause from the floor as he received the award.
Committed to alleviating sufferings
Tzu Chi Singapore was first contacted and invited by the SPS in early 2009 to help lighten the burdens of inmates suffering from AIDS.
The anti-retroviral drugs that the inmates consume are often costly, but these medicines could not be paid via their or their family members' Medisave account (Medisave is a national healthcare savings scheme designed to help members pay hospitalization expenses or certain outpatient treatments). Nor does the medicines qualify for grants from Medifund (an endowment fund set up by the Government to help needy Singaporeans who cannot afford subsidized bill charges despite Medisave and MediShield coverage).
In early 2009, Mr Ho Kim Teck, who is in charge of SPS's Community & Family Engagement (Rehabilitation & Reintegration Division), learnt from a medical social worker in Tan Tock Seng Hospital that Tzu Chi has been giving assistance to AIDS patients since late 1998. He thus approached the Foundation to provide subsidy for and offer spiritual care to the inmates.
Based on the tenet of 'Respecting Lives', volunteers of Tzu Chi Singapore began visiting the Changi Prison in March 2009 to present medical subsidies to its HIV-positive inmates. More than 50 inmates have benefited so far from the subsidy which has amounted to more than S$130,000. The subsidies were given over a total of 756 treatments with each monthly medical fees amounting to S$170.
Apart from medical fee assistance, the volunteers also visited the inmates in the Changi Women’s Prison as well as Cluster A and Cluster B every month and during the 2-hour interactive sessions with the inmates, the volunteers would share Jing Si Aphorisms, or wise words by Master Cheng Yen, with them. They would also share stories of how Master Cheng Yen founded Tzu Chi with the daily donations of 30 housewives in their bamboo coin banks. Even though the donations back then was small, the power of compassion induced by their small deeds was admirable, as it laid the foundation to the Tzu Chi today.
The volunteers also sought permission from the prison management to make little cards with Jing Si Aphorisms to give to the inmates. They would use a mixture of Malay, English and Chinese dialects to explain the meaning of the aphorisms so as to convey the message of love and compassion simple enough to help the inmates relate. The gradual transition from just one-sided sharing to the inmates starting sharing their thoughts on the aphorisms was a positive step forward, much to the delight of the Tzu Chi volunteers.
Two inmate-inspired drama series produced by Tzu Chi's Da Ai TV, 'Breaking the Waves' and 'The Addict', were even allowed to circulate in the prisons to spur the inmates on.
A companionship close to the heart
An inmate once confided in the volunteers, “We are grateful towards Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi for helping us with our medical expenses. If not for your help, we may not have been able to survive. I really don't know how to repay you back…”
Volunteer Hsu Hsueh Yu wisely replied that their best reward to Tzu Chi is none other than taking good care of themselves, be kind to others and doing deeds beneficial to the society.
During the institutional care each month, the team of volunteers also strives to inculcate environmental protection concepts in the inmates and share with them the idea of repentance (and thus change for the better) and vegetarianism. They encourage the inmates to start from "inner recycling" and strive for improvement in spiritual health by cutting attachments to their afflictions.
Five inmates who started to adopt vegetarianism early this year discovered that the biggest change in themselves is having better control over their temper and becoming more levelheaded. This emboldened the volunteers, who reaffirmed that with continued guidance and companionship, the inmates could one day be on their feet again.
At the appreciation luncheon, the Guest of Honour, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Mr Masagos Zulkifli, presented the awards and conveyed his thanks to all the organizations, including Tzu Chi Singapore (represented by Brother Ooi Hooi Cheng during the luncheon), for volunteering with SPS. The representatives took the chance to exchange information and admiration with one another. Some praised the achievement of Tzu Chi Foundation and the wisdom of Master Cheng Yen, and even expressed interest in visiting the local branch to get to know more about Tzu Chi's undertakings.
On 1 December, the World AIDS day, Singapore’s Action for Aids (AfA) launched a campaign themed ‘Let's Be Positive about People Living with HIV’, hoping to change the public's attitude towards AIDS patients and create a more tolerant society. Over 70 guests from the healthcare, entertainment and voluntary groups were invited to the campaign launch held at Customs House that evening.
Tzu Chi Singapore was represented by volunteer Ong Wee Heng and social work officer Karen Lim. It was also during the event that Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health and Chairperson of the National HIV Policy Committee, learnt about and lauded the long-term support given to AIDS patients by Tzu Chi.
The volunteers’ effort was not only consecutively acknowledged by the SPS but also coupled with positive feedbacks from the inmates. Just like how they shared with the inmates about Master Cheng Yen's 'Three Nos' (There is nobody in the world I do not love, trust or can’t forgive), the volunteers felt that they are the ones benefiting more from the interaction after all. The vows of the inmates to turn over a new leaf taught them that everyone does possess Buddha-nature and also inspired them to be more appreciative of what they have.
It's been more than two years since Tzu Chi began sending volunteers to provide moral support to the prison inmates. (Photo by Yong Keah Pei)
Those who wish to volunteer at the prisons have to attend special trainings and can only volunteer after passing the test implemented by the prisons authorities. Pictured are Tzu Chi volunteers participating in the training along with volunteers from other organization.(Photo by Karen Lim)
During the Volunteers Appreciation Luncheon, Guest Of Honour Mr Masagos Zulkifli presented the awards and conveyed his thanks to the organizations working with the Singapore Prison Service. Representing Tzu Chi Singapore was home visit cadre Ooi Hooi Cheng.(Photo courtesy of Singapore Prison Service)
Brother Ooi Hooi Cheng and Sister Karen Lim with SPS staff officer Mr Ho Kim Teck during the luncheon. Mr Ho is a key coordinator for facilitating the ongoing volunteering services in local prisons. (Photo courtesy of Singapore Prison Service)
Brother Ong Wee Heng and Sister Karen Lim representing Tzu Chi Singapore at the opening ceremony of World Aids Day in Singapore. (Photo courtesy of Reverend Yap Kim Hao)
A gratitude note from an inmate. (Photo provided by Karen Lim)
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