The opening ceremony of the 2026 Tzu Chi Festive Eco Charity Fair kicked off in a lively and festive atmosphere, drawing crowds of visitors to join in the celebration. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore) held its annual Festive Eco Charity Fair on 31 January and 1 February 2026. The event kicked off in a lively atmosphere, with resounding drums and lively lion dance performances. Blessed with a clear sky and a gentle breeze, MPC@Khatib hosted 38 vegetarian food stalls, 36 Chinese New Year goodies stalls, and 2 CNY flower stalls, while New Year gift packs and Jing Si products awaited eager buyers.
Mr Low Swee Seh, Managing Director of Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore), expressed heartfelt gratitude to Guest of Honour Ms Lee Hui Ying, MP for Nee Soon GRC, and all distinguished guests for their support. He highlighted that the charity fair was more than just a marketplace to shop for Chinese New Year goods; it also served as a heart-warming platform where Tzu Chi could join hands with the community to do good deeds and celebrate the festival together.
MP Ms Lee Hui Ying (pictured below) praised the event for its vibrant festive atmosphere and joyful spirit. She encouraged the public to do good with love and spread kindness and care to society, while extending her blessings: “Lead the way in the Year of the Horse and enjoy good health.”
Ms Lee Hui Ying, MP of Nee Soon GRC (center), attending the opening ceremony to extend her New Year wishes. (Photo by Teh Siau Ching)
Well-Organised Logistics Ensured Festive Goods Sold Smoothly
The charity fair buzzed with crowds exploring the dazzling array of Chinese New Year goods. Each time a coupon was redeemed, visitors not only took home festive treats but also received a meaningful token symbolising their support for the event.
The area where the Chinese New Year goods were neatly arranged reflected the hard work of many volunteers. See Siew Hoon, a volunteer from the logistics team, shared that her team arrived two days before the event to mark and colour-code each stall and boxes of goodies, enabling the mobile team to quickly locate and deliver items accurately.
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Behind the bustling stalls are volunteers quietly working hard, delivering goods and keeping everything running smoothly. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong) -
Members of the public could choose and purchase spring couplets on-site, bringing home their New Year wishes. (Photo by Khor Kim Seng) -
The CNY goods section is filled with festive cheer, creating a lively atmosphere while spreading the spirit of giving. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
At the fair, ten logistics volunteers continuously patrolled the venue, replenishing stock from the warehouse in real-time based on sales. Experienced volunteers guided newcomers, ensuring smooth collaboration throughout the event.
“We are grateful for every merchant’s support, so we must do our utmost to ensure all Chinese New Year goods are sold out,” said See Siew Hoon appreciatively.
At the CNY flower stalls, colourful potted plants in red, yellow, purple, and green created a vibrant spring tapestry. Volunteer Teo Siew Khuan carefully labelled each sold plant with the buyer’s information. After the fair, volunteers delivered the flowers to buyers’ homes. Special care was taken for delicate orchids, which were secured with plastic ties and wrapped in pink netting to ensure these “flowers of happiness” arrive in good condition.
(Photo by Tew Yu Rui)
From sourcing trustworthy florists to delivering over 700 pots of flowers, the volunteers carried out this good deed with remarkable harmony and cooperation. From the moment they received the seedlings, they nurtured the plants, shielding them from sun and rain, watering them daily in small amounts using recycled bottles, and personally tying each plant with Jing Si Aphorism cards, allowing the flowers to carry blessings and wisdom along with them.
Making Sustainability Part of Daily Life
Tzu Chi has been promoting environmental protection since the 1990s. Stall owner Heng Guan Hou has been participating in the annual charity fair for nearly 20 years, since 2006. He praised Tzu Chi for avoiding disposable cutlery throughout the event. “In today’s convenience-driven era, it is not easy to fully practice environmental protection, yet Tzu Chi has persisted for so long,” he said. He recalled being invited by the late Sim Hee Chew, convener of the Tzu Chi Singapore Entrepreneur Association, and has remained a regular participant ever since.
Since 2018, Roy Kee, founder of Green Kulture, has been promoting natural cleaning products at the charity fair. (Photo by Yeo Chee Hwang)
Beyond avoiding disposable cutlery, Tzu Chi’s green practice extends into daily life. Roy Kee, founder of Green Kulture, has been promoting natural cleaning agents at Tzu Chi’s charity fair since 2018. Made from fruit and vegetable enzymes instead of chemicals, these products reduce secondary pollution and provide families with convenient ways to practise sustainable living.
Another sponsor, rice merchant Tan Huan Lin, is a key figure behind the organic brown rice stall. He first joined the charity fair in 2024, inspired by fellow entrepreneurs on Facebook. His organic brown rice comes from eco-friendly farming methods: fields are inspected every five to six months, no pesticides are used, weeds are carefully removed by hand, and harvesting occurs only once a year. Amid worsening extreme weather and fierce competition for high-quality soil and water, few farmers remain willing to devote the time and energy needed for such meticulous cultivation, producing rigorously quality-controlled rice.
Tan Huan Lin hopes that through nutritious organic brown rice, people can eat healthily and continue contributing to society. He also hopes diners will appreciate not only the food on their plates but also the care and effort invested in producing it.
Connecting Communities and Spreading Kindness
“I am grateful to Tzu Chi for giving me this blessed opportunity.” These words, spoken by Liew Lian Fah’s late mother, inspired in her ongoing dedication to her food stall at the charity fair. Every year, she meticulously prepared Thunder Tea Rice (擂茶), pumpkin porridge, and soft, comforting dishes to meet the dietary needs of the elderly, while conveying the warmth of home-cooked food.
“Many elders look forward to this love every year,” Liew Lian Fah said. It was this anticipation that continued to drive her dedication.
(Photo by Yeo Chee Hwang)
(Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
From her mother’s influence to her own actions and even the involvement of the next generation, three generations of Liew Lian Fah’s family have exemplified filial piety through deeds—doing good, giving generously, and letting love continue through action.
She shared that her family often worked so hard during the event that their hands and feet would ache. Her children once asked in bewilderment, “The money doesn’t go into our pockets, so why are we so tired yet still so happy?” She smiled and replied, “This is the reward for doing good deeds.”
Besides volunteers, many long-time supporters also attended the charity fair. Among them was Ng Nga Hua, who has been supporting the Tzu Chi charity fair for 30 years, dating back to its early days in Chinatown. She shared, “The charity fair is not just about buying Chinese New Year goods, it’s also a day to reunite with old friends.”
Ng Nga Hua always came to the charity fair with her friends, upholding a long-standing tradition: “Each person buys one or two portions to share.” They enjoyed the warmth and cosiness as they strolled and sampled the food together. Yet what moved her most were the volunteers, who proactively tidied the venue and readily stepped in to help whenever needed.
Debunking Myths About Bone Marrow Donation
Over the two-day event, which drew more than 10,000 people, the charity fair also served as a platform to share positive messages. This year, Tzu Chi partnered with the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to set up booths promoting bone marrow donation and smart living.
Physician Ong Hui Ying, stationed at the bone marrow donation awareness booth, addressed common myths and challenges she encountered. She explained that the misconception that bone marrow is extracted from the spine, originated from TV dramas, and has caused unnecessary fear among the public.
Ong Hui Ying sharing information about bone marrow donation with members of the public, helping to dispel common myths and misconceptions. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
“On average, six people in Singapore are diagnosed with blood disorders, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow tumours, every day, while 50 patients wait each month for a suitable bone marrow transplant to prolong their lives.”
“In reality, out of Singapore’s six million people, only about 120,000 have registered as bone marrow donors. This isn’t due to public indifference, but often because of a lack of understanding, fear, or the belief that they themselves are not important.”
Ong Hui Ying shared that she has been registered as a donor for over 20 years without a successful match: “Sometimes life is not about waiting for miracles to happen, but about creating them. You never know whose life you might save in this world.”
Over the two-day event, the charity fair successfully recruited 103 new bone marrow registrants, bringing hope to countless lives.
The two-day Festive Eco Charity Fair also gathered the love and goodwill of the public, raising a total of S$1.37 million, surpassing its target. Although the event has ended, it is hoped that its message of giving, compassion, and environmental care will continue to live on in people’s hearts.
(Source of information: Ng Hock Soon, Foo Chai Chiwn, Ngo Yoke Ling, Koh Lai Leng, Lue Hui Wen, Tew Yu Rui)
Photo Gallery：
Tzu Chi Festive Eco Charity Fair (2026)
Tzu Chi Festive Eco Charity Fair - Preparations (2026)
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