The United States

In observance of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) hosted an Interfaith Memorial Service in St. Paul Chapel at Ground Zero to commemorate those who lost their lives. The service also paid tribute to the national religious relief and recovery agencies that came to the aid of the people of this city and nation during the heartrending catastrophe. Members of these agencies and NYDIS continue to serve thousands of 9/11 survivors and the injured and sick rescuers who sacrificed so much to serve others. It was the first time that Tzu Chi had been invited to attend the memorial service. During the service, besides mourning the deaths, various religious leaders and representatives gave inspirational speeches with emphasis on love, forgiveness, and unity.

Following the memorial service, NYDIS hosted an award dinner to acknowledge the losses and need for continued healing, to soothe the survivors, and to recognize the enormous human and material contributions to New York from religious relief agencies and other partners over the past five years. Attendees were representatives from various religious organizations that have committed to providing continuous assistance to the victims of 9/11. Two Tzu Chi members, Kenneth Liao and Pearl Huynh, attended the dinner on behalf of the foundation.

Peter Gudaitis, CEO of NYDIS and the host of the award dinner, noted that this interfaith community was brought together by 9/11. He hoped that the participating organizations would truly collaborate in helping people with love. During the dinner, the host and various honored guests in their speeches all emphasized the importance of love, tolerance, commitment and compassion to those in need. "We do not focus on the loss, but on reconstruction. Be the guiding light and inspiration to those families who need help to survive," were some of the remarks.

The White House and the New York state and city governments also sent representatives to praise the humanitarian work that NYDIS and partner organizations have performed. They gave awards to all participating organizations at the dinner.

Gudaitis also pointed out that the leading groups in NYDIS had too long been white and Christian. It was time to diversify. He emphasized that the participation of more religious-based organizations such as Islam, Buddhism, and others would bring wisdom to the interfaith round table. At the end, Peter wished that Tzu Chi would be more involved in the interfaith community. He also handed out an award to the Tzu Chi Foundation and every organization that was invited to the dinner.

The Philippines

While Typhoon Milenyo brought destruction of unparalleled proportions as it made landfall in Metro Manila and neighboring areas across Luzon, Zamboanga City was not spared from its wrath. Days of continuous rain that soaked the ground brought flash floods, and overflowing rivers forced the Zamboanga city government to forcibly evacuate residents from low-lying areas like Placer and Purok 7 in Tugbungan to prevent any unnecessary loss of life.

A total of 186 families were evacuated to Titian Central Elementary School on October 8, 2006. Since there was enough preparation time, the evacuees were able to bring clothes and cooking implements with them. When they reached the school, the city government also distributed rice and other foodstuffs. When a reporter from Radyo Agong, one of the media partners of Tzu Chi Zamboanga, went to inspect the shelter, he was met with requests for cardboard boxes that could be flattened and placed on the cement floors, so that the evacuees wouldn't have physical contact with the cold floors while they slept. Knowing about Tzu Chi Zamboanga's recycling activities, he immediately called Tzu Chi volunteers for help. Upon receiving the call, volunteers living near the area went and surveyed the actual need at the evacuation site. Upon assessment, the volunteers agreed that cardboard laid on the floor would be a big help. In less than two hours, the volunteers brought empty cartons from their recycling stations to the school.

Ironically, in spite of the heavy rain and accompanying floods, there was no safe drinking water available, especially for the children and babies at the evacuation area. Consequently, volunteers also delivered several six-liter containers of mineral water to the 186 displaced families. To bring back smiles to the children and their parents, Tzu Chi Zamboanga also distributed candy and family-sized bottles of shampoo to the delighted children and their parents.

Because of the small number of evacuees, the city was able to supply them with their food requirements. Most of the evacuees were able to return to their homes the following morning, making it one of the simplest relief operations for Tzu Chi Zamboanga.

Paraguay

On October 29, 2006, 11 cars carrying volunteers and relief goods approached the Barrio San Juan district in Ciudad del Este. The vehicles turned into a small alley and came to a school playground, where many needy families were already waiting for their arrival.

The volunteers had come beforehand to check up on 130 needy families in order to decide which ones would receive relief goods this time. These needy people were either single parents, unemployed, or elderly. The volunteers appealed to them to do their best to love and help other people, even though they are not rich since the economy was in such bad shape. If they could give their sincerity and love, then society could be truly peaceful.

The goods, mainly donated by kind-hearted people, included 4,550 kilograms of food, 390 pairs of slippers, 130 bags of daily necessities, and toys.

The Dominican Republic

A fire broke out at 3 a.m., October 1, and destroyed Villa Nazareth in Santa Domingo, the country's capital, forcing 37 families to flee from their homes. The following day, when the local newspaper reported the incident, local Tzu Chi people paid a visit to the survivors to see if Tzu Chi could help them in any way.

When they arrived, an area of 1,200 square meters (12,916 square feet) had been burned beyond recognition, such that no one could tell this was once a tiny village of 37 families. Most survivors were single mothers and their children. One mother had eight children before the fire; sadly, her nine- and seven-year-old children failed to escape in time.

It was later discovered that the fire was caused by a dispute between a tenant and her landlord. The heated argument resulted in the merciless setting of the fire that killed two innocent children and destroyed the property of all 37 families, leaving them totally destitute. Many survivors had no time to grab important personal items. The only possessions they had left were their pajamas and slippers.

The local government had started providing a meal a day to these survivors, who were taking shelter at a nearby school. Therefore, Tzu Chi people began providing them with food, drinking water and clothes.

Canada

On November 5, 2006, Tzu Chi held a pre-Christmas distribution at Front Room, a shelter for the homeless in Surrey, British Columbia. This is the fifth year that Tzu Chi has helped here.

Several days earlier, volunteers were already preparing relief goods by putting tags on them to identify their sizes and quantities.

At 4 p.m., people gradually started to come in. The volunteers invited them to sit down at the tables and started bringing them salad, cooked rice, fruit, hot corn soup, and other dishes. Many people started devouring the food as soon as it arrived at the table. Volunteers zigzagged among the tables, smiling, chatting with the guests, and asking what else they needed.

Many of the homeless people were surprised to find out that the food was vegetarian, even though some appeared to be real meat. Fried rice seemed to be the favorite dish, as many asked for more, so volunteers had to quicken their pace and bring out more plates of fried rice.

At around six, night had fallen, and it was time for the highlight of the event: the distribution of the relief goods. After all the meals had been given out, the volunteers prepared for the distribution by cleaning up an area and bringing out the goods. Some volunteers guided the homeless into lines, while other volunteers handed out the supplies.

Each person got a coat that could protect the wearer from rain and cold weather. The coats also had reflective strips to protect the wearers at night or in bad weather when they go out walking.

In addition to a coat, each person also received a pair of gloves, a pair of winter socks, and a scarf, as well as warmth from the volunteers, who wished them all the best.

Singapore

For a month from around mid-September to mid-October, Singapore suffered from haze from a forest fire in Indonesia. For health reasons, many people stayed home unless they really had to go out. After the haze disappeared and the weather improved, local Tzu Chi people held a free medical examination clinic on October 29 for local people.

On October 22, 25 volunteers went to residential complexes near the Tzu Chi branch and handed out leaflets. The volunteers all remarked afterwards that the residents they had contact with were very kind; the Malays and Indians in particular would sincerely accept the leaflets with both hands [a traditional Chinese gesture of respect] and listen attentively to explanations from the Tzu Chi people.

Volunteer Xiao Ming-lan said that she hoped everyone could start taking a serious look at their own health through this free medical examination.

On October 29, the visitors were led to the third floor of the Tzu Chi office. They first registered their names and personal information; then they went through various tests for blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, heartbeat, height, weight, eyesight, and urine analysis. Then they could go to either traditional Chinese medicine doctors or Western medicine doctors for consultation. The traditional Chinese doctors also provided acupuncture treatment.

Dr. Guo Zhong-fu, a member of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association, invited doctors from the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Acupuncture Research Institution to participate in this event. President Zhao Yin-jie of the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine felt that Tzu Chi was doing a meaningful thing by holding free medical examinations for the public welfare. He suggested that Tzu Chi hold more activities like this in the future as a service to society.

Guatemala

Local Tzu Chi people went out on October 20 to deliver relief goods to 79 families in two villages, Concepcion and Rosario, in the municipality of San Miguel Duenas. Each family received clothing, blankets, 10 pounds of rice, 10 pounds of black beans, 25 pounds of corn flour, and 10 bags of noodles.

On September 8, when the volunteers came the first time, they were stunned by the poverty there. Ernesto and his wife, Nataria, are typical residents of Rosario: they have six children aged from one to twelve. Ernesto works in a field and earns 400 quetzals (US$52) a month. Their house is made of old corn stalks bound together, and inside there is one bed for all eight of them. In one corner are a few bricks on which they cook their meals. The oldest daughter, 12 years old, does not attend school; she stays home to look after her siblings.

There is one clinic in the village, but its shelves are bare. Tzu Chi plans to do more to help them in the future.

New Zealand

On September 18, 2006, a beautiful sunny day, five Tzu Chi volunteers went to Mangere Communi-Care in southern Auckland for the weekly Monday gathering. The gathering was hosted by David John Peake of the Auckland Social Work Department. The participants were mainly lonely elderly and handicapped people in Mangere, Auckland.

The five Tzu Chi volunteers prepared tea, lunch, hot soup, and sandwiches. The entertainment started at around 9:30 in the morning. First there was a group warm-up activity for the elderly, including boat-rowing movements and some tai chi. The volunteers were like cheerleaders, encouraging the elderly as if they were their own parents.

Peake is grateful that his mother had been well taken care of by kind-hearted people while she was alive, so he also volunteers to care for the elderly and handicapped. He has been serving in several areas in Auckland every month for the last two years.

At around ten it was teatime, so the volunteers brought out bread, cookies, and hot tomato soup for the elderly. Afterwards there were various activities: some played indoor bowling or chess, or they just sat around chatting, painting, or doing needlework.

After tea, the volunteers cleaned up everything and started preparing lunch. At around noon, they set the tables and brought out sandwiches and drinks. While the guests were eating, the volunteers walked among the tables refilling tea or coffee. A good time was had by all.

Thailand

Thailand is flooded every rainy season, but the flooding was extremely serious this year and many parts of Bangkok were under water for over a month.

After investigating six communities, local Tzu Chi people decided to hold distributions in the devastated Muslim village of Tambtangphonton.

Tzu Chi distributed rice on October 20. The volunteers gathered at Wagatwom Selaba Temple at 11 that morning. Some people took the goods in boats to the village center, while others walked along the river to reach the same destination. With the sun overhead, the blowing winds really made the walk more comfortable.

The volunteers distributed rice, cooking oil, and medical ointments for small cuts and bruises to 220 families. After the distribution was over, the volunteers started to pay even more attention to the health of the victims. If necessary, free clinics will be held to assist them.