Betty Chien on the importance of charity and recycling
Betty Chien was inspired by the Tzu Chi's founder, Master Cheng Yen, to do charity work.
After moving to Newcastle 17 years ago from Taipei in Taiwan, Betty Chien has become fully integrated in the community.
“For the past 17 years, I have found the people in Newcastle very friendly and compassionate. The town is also much cleaner than a lot of other towns and cities,” she said.
But it is through her love of the town, its community and her desire to help others, that she joined the Tzu Chi Foundation Buddhist Compassion Relief, as a volunteer in 2001.
Ms Chien was inspired by the Tzu Chi’s founder, Master Cheng Yen, to do charity work.
“It is important to help others because in this world we need to direct our actions and have a grateful heart. Everything has been changing over the years with people becoming focused more on material objects. If we have a good heart, whether we are rich or poor, as long as we are willing to help others, issues such as crime, pain and poverty can be addressed,” said Ms Chien.
Ms Chien is also an active proponent of recycling.
“I would encourage others to recycle, as we are using the earth’s natural resources. I believe that it is because of using natural resources without recycling that natural disasters such as global warming are happening. We need to appreciate what we have and what we have had,” concluded Ms Chien.
