By Ng Siew Kwan
Edited and translated by Wu Hsiao-ting
Photo by Hsiao Yiu-hwa
Turning personal struggles into a mission of hope, a Tzu Chi volunteer demonstrates the strength of the human spirit.
In December 2024, I traveled from Malaysia to Taiwan to receive my Tzu Chi volunteer certification. I may be physically limited—unable to walk, control my bodily functions, or get in and out of a car without assistance—but these challenges will not hinder my desire to make a difference.
My life changed dramatically in 2020 after an accident left me paralyzed, shattering my career in the food and beverage industry and robbing me of my mobility. My wife’s steadfast support kept me from sinking into despair, but tragedy struck again when she passed away from heart disease. Just two weeks later, my child was diagnosed with ADHD. It felt as though the sky had crumbled.
Prior to this, when I was still in the food and beverage industry, my life had revolved around profit. I valued money above all else and strongly disapproved of my sister’s involvement with Tzu Chi. My perspective began to shift during my first visit to the Tzu Chi Jing Si Hall in Kuala Lumpur. An elderly woman offered to push my wheelchair up a ramp. My wheelchair and I together weighed over a hundred kilograms (220 pounds), so I asked her how she could possibly manage. She simply replied, “I can do it!” Her sincerity moved me, and Tzu Chi’s warmth and sense of family left a deep impression on me.
During an online sharing session with Tzu Chi’s headquarters in Hualien, Master Cheng Yen said to me, “Do not give up. Use your life to inspire others.” At the time, I didn’t fully understand her words. Later, a volunteer took me to visit a cancer patient. When I shared my story, the patient said, “Brother, after hearing your story, I feel my problems are no longer problems.”
In that instant, a profound realization dawned upon me: I still possessed the means to contribute —my hands and my voice. I joined Tzu Chi’s volunteer training and committed myself to fulfilling the path Master Cheng Yen envisioned for me. I enrolled in university to study social work and psychology, and also learned to drive a specially adapted vehicle—all to better equip myself to help others.
Today, I stand as a testament to resilience, proving that even in the darkest times, one can rise above adversity. My hope is to inspire others to do the same. I am forever grateful to Master Cheng Yen for never giving up on me. Now, I can proudly declare: I am a Tzu Chi volunteer.
