Muhammad Hisham (second from left) attended the Tzu Chi festive gathering with his mother. Celebrating Hari Raya with fellow patients and volunteers was an experience he found heartwarming and meaningful. (Photo by Yeo Chee Hwang)
For this year’s Hari Raya Festive Gathering, Muslim patients from the Tzu Chi Renal Dialysis Centre (DRC) were among the guests invited. Among them was 49-year-old Muhammad Hisham, a Malay patient with a deep love for Chinese culture. His former Chinese teacher gave him the Chinese name “Mo Yi Shan,” which he cherishes greatly.
This year’s Hari Raya Festive Gathering held special meaning for him. Muhammad Hisham had been hospitalised due to a wound infection before the festival. Having missed out on family gatherings due to his hospital stay, being able to attend the celebration with his mother and many other peers made this year’s Hari Raya Puasa even more special.
Upon arriving at Jing Si Hall, Muhammad Hisham’s mother was pleasantly surprised to reunite with two former colleagues, who are Tzu Chi volunteers. Their warm embraces bridged the gap of time and distance, filling the room with heartfelt joy of reunion.
On 13 April 2025, Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) continued its tradition of hosting a Hari Raya celebration, bringing a sense of home and festive warmth to the Malay care recipients.
The song “Kita Satu Keluarga” (meaning “One Family”) brought the atmosphere to a climax as care recipients and volunteers sang and danced together. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Rediscovering passion, embracing life
A sudden afternoon rain on the day of the celebration seemed to cleanse the air for the festivities. Outside Jing Si Hall, yellow umbrellas blossomed among the crowd as volunteers braved the rainy weather to warmly welcome every guest.
This year, 41 care recipients and 112 family members attended the festive celebration. Even before the event began, the game zone on the first floor was already bustling. Designed by Tzu Shao and Tzu Ching, booths like ring toss, five-stone, and tic-tac-toe were a hit with both children and adults, sparking joy and laughter throughout.
The event began with volunteers leading everyone in a warm-up exercise. Some care recipients even joined in on stage, livening up the atmosphere. A song guessing game followed and as familiar tunes chimed, eager hands rose quickly as participants actively engaged in the fun.
The game booths designed by Tzu Shao and Tzu Ching were a hit with both children and adults, allowing participants to immerse in the festive joy. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Muhammad Hisham and his mother participated enthusiastically, gently swaying to the music and eagerly raising their hands for the game. When the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) volunteers performed the Malay song “Kita Satu Keluarga,” the pair stood up to join the sign language performance while singing along, and their faces beamed with joy.
Muhammad Hisham shared that he recently learned the sign language for the song “Kita Satu Keluarga” and he performed it during the dialysis centre’s opening ceremony. When he first visited the dialysis centre, he was shy and hesitant to speak with staff and volunteers, but he has since become outgoing and sociable with everyone. Now, whenever he sees familiar volunteers, he would wave enthusiastically and form heart shapes with his hands, showing his joyful side.
“What I look forward to most is having volunteers accompany me during my dialysis sessions. They bring me joy and teach me a lot about Chinese culture, which helps me forget my physical discomfort temporarily,” he said. “Happiness or sadness is a choice, I choose to be happy.”
Volunteers led the warm-up exercise, and care recipients happily joined in on stage, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere. (Photo by Yeo Chee Hwang)
Nurturing kindness from a young age
Twelve-year-old Nur Qisya Alisha was the youngest performer at the event. Her family shares a long-standing bond with Tzu Chi. Nine years ago, her grandfather received three months of financial aid from Tzu Chi during the early stages of dialysis, and her aunt has been under Tzu Chi’s medical assistance for the past seven years due to health issues.
A Primary Six student at Zhenghua Primary School, Qisya developed a love for dance at an early age of five. She joined her school’s Malay and Indian dance CCAs, steadily honing her passion and skills.
Encouraged by volunteer Loh Peck Siew, Qisya not only proactively took up the invitation to perform, but also choreographed her own dance moves to align with the song’s lyrics, hoping to convey encouragement and blessings through her art.
Qisya believes that everything is worth trying and that happiness and dreams are always possible. Through her performance, she wanted to give back in her own way and expressed deep gratitude for Tzu Chi’s support for her family.
Her aunt Sri Sugyani, originally from Indonesia, moved to Singapore nine years ago after marrying a local. Her husband works as a security guard with modest income. Not long after giving birth, Sugyani was diagnosed with a condition requiring long-term treatment and was referred to Tzu Chi by medical social workers.
“Tzu Chi gave me a lot of support and care. This was my first time receiving help from a charity, and I could tell that Tzu Chi is different. They genuinely care and give us strength to go on. I now look to the future with more confidence,” she said in simple but heartfelt English. “One day, I hope I can also help others and bring hope, like Tzu Chi does.”
Sugyani’s mother-in-law was also deeply moved by Tzu Chi’s compassion. Under the guidance of volunteers, she began saving coins daily in a bamboo bank, hoping to give back and help those in greater need.
Qisya, 12, was the youngest performer at the celebration. (Photo by Yeo Chee Hwang)
Never giving up with Tzu Chi’s companionship
Some care recipients were invited to share their personal stories on stage. Ms Saida Khanum Bte Hasan Khan, who is wheelchair-bound, shared how she lost her mobility after a serious fall at work last year that left her hospitalised for over four months.
She recalled how at her lowest, it was difficult to adjust to her new reality and thoughts of giving up her life crossed her mind. Fortunately, medical social workers introduced her to Tzu Chi, whose volunteers began visiting her regularly, offering companionship and encouragement to take things slowly and never give up.
With their support, Ms Saida gradually regained her confidence.
She praised Tzu Chi’s inclusive spirit, noting how the organisation treats all recipients equally, regardless of religion, faith, or race. “We are all like one family,” she said, adding that she especially cherished this celebration, which was filled with engaging activities and delicious food.
Inspired by Master Cheng Yen’s philosophy of “accumulating a small amount of money to do great deeds”, Ms Saida also started saving coins daily in a bamboo bank, because “Giving is not the privilege of the rich, but of those who are sincere”.
Nur Amalina Binte Ithni delivered a touching recitation of Malay poems, including a heartfelt self-composed tribute to her late mother. As she recalled their memories, tears streamed down her face, moving everyone in attendance.
Ms Saida (right) has regained her confidence gradually, and she praised Tzu Chi’s equal and inclusive care for all care recipients, regardless of race or religion. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
This year’s Hari Raya Festive Gathering was co-hosted by Tai Nyeok Moi and Roger Seen, whose humorous and lively hosting style brought laughter and warmth to the event. The entire celebration was filled with a heartwarming atmosphere, and care recipients could feel the sincerity and thoughtfulness of the Tzu Chi volunteers.
To close the event, the TIMA team led everyone in singing “Kita Satu Keluarga,” lifting spirits as care recipients and volunteers danced and sang together.
The Hari Raya Festive Gathering came to a joyful close with the support and togetherness of all, leaving behind a lasting warmth in everyone’s hearts.
(Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
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