Tzu Chi volunteer Wang Xiaona (centre), leader of the Publicity Team, explains the blood donation process to an Indian member of the public, patiently addressing his concerns. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
On 25 April 2026, outside the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, Publicity Team Leader Wang Xiaona moved briskly yet steadily between the various outreach spots for the community blood donation drive. Although she was responsible for coordinating both the morning and afternoon outreach effort, her calm and gentle demeanour never wavered.
The blood donation drive was jointly organised on a regular basis by Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) and the Singapore Red Cross. The event received an enthusiastic response from the public, with 149 compassionate individuals registering to donate and 96 units of blood collected. The event also partnered with the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) to promote bone marrow donor registration, welcoming 36 new registrants.
Wang Xiaona concentrates on coordinating volunteer duties, her expression conveying dedication and responsibility. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
Behind these encouraging figures were the quiet dedication of 48 morning-shift volunteers and 35 afternoon-shift volunteers, who worked together to create a warm experience for every participant. Whether promoting the campaign, guiding visitors, offering companionship or providing reassurance, each volunteer served in a different role but shared the same aspiration—to help save lives and bring hope to others. Their calm smiles amid a busy day reflected the spirit of Tzu Chi volunteers: giving wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return.
The morning outreach covered four locations, while the afternoon team managed three. Wang Xiaona shared that the biggest challenge this time was the shortage of volunteers. While she was conducting the morning briefing, she could not simultaneously lead the afternoon team to their outreach locations. Fortunately, Coordinator Hwang Man Wei stepped in to assist, ensuring a smooth transition and demonstrating the strength of working together in unity, harmony, mutual love and concerted effort.
The morning-shift outreach volunteers gather outside the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, ready to begin the day's blood donation campaign, everyone is seen beaming with joy. (Photo by Bong Kian Hin)
During the outreach, an Indian passer-by approached to ask about blood donation. He shared that he had never donated blood before and was worried that he might faint. Wang Xiaona patiently reassured him that medical professionals would be present throughout the process to ensure donors' safety. Put at ease, he decided to register and proceeded to the donation site with a volunteer.
"One bag of blood is a gift of love and blessings that can help three people," Wang Xiaona said simply, capturing the profound impact of blood donation. She also hopes that more volunteers will join future blood donation drives so that this meaningful effort can continue to reach those in need, while also foster connections with the wider community and embody the spirit of unconditional love and universal compassion.
Under the blazing sun, the smiles of volunteers who willingly gave of themselves became a quiet yet steadfast source of strength.
Unable to donate blood, he spreads kindness through song
Outside Yishun MRT Station, crowds passed by in a constant flow. Standing quietly among them was 73-year-old outreach volunteer Tan Cheng Hak, dressed in the Tzu Chi volunteer vest and a white cap, holding a sign that read, "Give blood, Save lives". His expression was calm and welcoming.
Having exceeded the age limit for blood donation, Tan Cheng Hak could no longer roll up his sleeves to donate blood. Instead, he chose another way to continue helping others. Hoping to encourage more people to pause and consider donating, he softly sang a short English tune that he had written himself to promote the campaign.
“For passers-by, listen, listen. Today is a special day for you to be a kind-hearted person, to donate your blood for needed ones, and to give them a second chance to live better. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.”
With a warm smile, Tan Cheng Hak softly sings the English song he composed to encourage blood donation. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
He never hurried passers-by or stopped them forcefully. Instead, whenever someone naturally slowed their pace, he would gently raise his hand in greeting, allowing the life-saving message to reach them as gently as a passing breeze.
Whenever someone stopped to listen or nodded in response, his smile grew even brighter.
He acknowledged that street outreach is often overlooked, but every sincere interaction is a meaningful response to kindness.
Age may catch up, but compassion never grows old. Blood cannot be manufactured, and every unit donated is someone's hope for survival.
"A small act of kindness can give someone a second chance at life. I hope more people will donate blood in the future, and I also hope more people will become volunteers so that together we can spread this love and hope," said Tan Cheng Hak.
One family walking the path of kindness together
Inside the venue, the blood donation area was bustling, yet the entire process flowed smoothly and in an orderly manner.
Usher Team Leader Tan Poh Lan moved constantly between the registration area, haemoglobin screening station, doctor's assessment area and blood donation section. She patiently briefed volunteers at each station on the procedures while ensuring that visitors could move smoothly through every stage. Although the afternoon shift faced manpower constraints and the continued outreach efforts brought a steady increase in visitors, Tan Poh Lan remained calm and organised throughout. Her warm smile quietly uplifted everyone she met.
With smiles as bridges and kindness as a shared language, Tan Poh Lan shares a warm interaction with a Malay lady. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
Tan Poh Lan shared that this was the event in which she had been involved most deeply. From the early planning stages and volunteer invitation to eventually serving as team leader, the experience filled her with both a sense of accomplishment and heartfelt gratitude.
Although she had worried about whether she was capable of taking on the responsibility, she chose to step forward, transforming her uncertainty into motivation for action. As Dharma Master Cheng Yen teaches, "Where there is willingness, there is strength. Just do what is right." With the companionship and encouragement of her husband and son, together with the guidance of fellow volunteers, she gradually gained confidence and came to treasure the collective effort that made the event possible.
She added that without her husband, Ng Seck Khoon, accompanying her on her Tzu Chi journey, she might never find the courage to take that first step. Walking this path together, he became her greatest source of quiet strength and unwavering support.
(From left) Ng Seck Khoon, Ng Jun Kiat and Tan Poh Lan serve side by side as a family, reminding Tan Poh Lan that kindness is never a journey taken alone. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
That day also marked a personal milestone for Tan Poh Lan’s eldest son, Ng Jun Kiat. Having returned to Singapore after graduating from university in Australia last year, Ng Jun Kiat put on a Tzu Chi volunteer vest for the first time and joined his father in promoting the blood donation drive on the streets. Although he occasionally encountered rejection from passers-by and felt the fatigue that comes with street outreach, he was never discouraged. He believed that every additional person convinced to donate blood could mean another life saved.
"Donating blood doesn't require much from us, yet it has the potential to save lives. That's why I want to be part of it," he said.
He also praised the smooth organisation of the event, noting that both the Tzu Chi volunteers and the staff from the Singapore Red Cross were professional and approachable.
Having grown up watching his parents devote themselves to community service, their example had quietly become a baton of compassion passed on to the next generation.
"Seeing my parents doing this naturally inspired me to do the same," he shared.
On the same day, Ng Jun Kiat also registered with the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP), believing that a small decision is worthwhile if it has the chance to change someone's life.
Continuing to give hope together
At the Bone Marrow Donor Programme booth sat a familiar pair working side by side—69-year-old Tan Boon Suah and his wife, 70-year-old Chia Mee Wa.
Tan Boon Suah (right) and Chia Mee Wa (centre) share information with one member of the public about bone marrow donation. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
The couple joined Tzu Chi in August 2023 and began promoting bone marrow donor registration just a month later. Now, both served as team leaders at the registration booth.
Many members of the public mistakenly believe that bone marrow donation involves extracting marrow directly from the spine, while others worry that the procedure is painful or dangerous. Whenever such misconceptions arise, the couple would patiently address each concern without the slightest impatience. She explained carefully, while he naturally added further clarification. Their effortless teamwork reflected the quiet trust and understanding built over years together.
They know that what truly touches people's hearts is rarely statistics alone, but the heart-moving stories of donors and recipients meeting after a successful transplant, moments that represent a precious second chance at life. Those experiences continue to strengthen their conviction that this is a journey worth continuing.
One encounter remains especially memorable. At an international vegan carnival, a member of the public arrived at their booth on a mobility scooter. After learning about bone marrow donation, he not only registered but also expressed his wish to become a volunteer.
The couple still remembers the joy in that moment. No words were needed to express what they felt. Compassion is never limited by physical ability. They were reminded of Dharma Master Cheng Yen's teaching: "Just do what is right."
They hope to share one clear and reassuring message with the public: bone marrow donation is both safe and deeply meaningful. Bone marrow has a remarkable ability to regenerate naturally, with donors typically recovering within four to six weeks.
Quiet Strength, Enduring Compassion
The event lasted only half a day. Yet the moments captured through the camera lens, together with the reflections shared by the volunteers, reveal something far deeper, the quiet strength and compassion that shape their lives.
Working together in unity, harmony, mutual love and concerted effort, volunteers behind the scenes helped make the blood donation drive a success. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
Every smiling face at the bone marrow donor registration booth reflects a shared commitment to protecting lives. (Photo by Low Yen Lin)
Wang Xiaona remained composed amid the constant pace of coordination. Tan Poh Lan and her family have woven kindness into their everyday lives. Tan Cheng Hak, though in his seventies, continue to shine his light in his own way. Tan Boon Suah and Chia Mee Wa nurture hope through years of steadfast partnership. Though they serve in different roles and come from different generations, they are united by the same aspiration—to help others.
A photograph may preserve a moment in time, but it cannot fully capture the quiet emotions behind it. Words, however, allow these stories to be gently remembered. Even as the warmth of donated blood fades, and a bone marrow match requires patience, kindness once sown will quietly flourish when it is needed most.
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