Grandma Yen donates her life savings
to rebuild homes in India
Reported by Huang Li-yun and Lin
Tien-chin
(Translated by Michelle Tseng, Northern California)
Yen Fu-niang, an elderly Malaysian woman with
no family, has received financial aid from Tzu Chi for six years.
When she learned that Tzu Chi was raising funds for Indian earthquake
survivors, she decided to donate her whole life savings, which
she had been preparing for her funeral, to help quake victims
rebuild their homes.
Grandma Yen is a recipient of Tzu Chi's long-term
care. At Tzu Chi relief distributions, she sits quietly and
inconspicuously at one side and never mentions "gratitude"
or "giving back to society." Six years ago, both of
her sons died, leaving her alone and helpless in her old age.
Tzu Chi members in Malaysia promptly started to provide her
daily necessities and basic financial aid each month. Although
many Tzu Chi Youth volunteers have come to visit and try to
please her, Grandma Yen has never seemed particularly happy
or excited.
Although old Grandma Yen was not used to expressing
her feelings, she made an unprecedented decision: she donated
her whole life savings of 1,000 ringgits [US$263] to help Indian
quake victims rebuild their homes. "Tzu Chi has helped
me a lot, so of course I would like to pay back while I can."
Shy Grandma Yen proved that by using her financial support to
answer the volunteers.
