Tzu Chi USA Sets Up Bone Marrow Matching Lab

The Bone Marrow Matching Laboratory of the Tzu Chi USA Marrow Donor Registry was formally opened on April 16, 1996. This is a milestone for the diversified medical services of Tzu Chi USA. On April 14, equipment and software for serological HLA and DNA typing were ready for use. By April 23, the lab had completed blood analyses for 196 volunteer donors recruited by the Tzu Chi Registry offices in New York, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

The laboratory is located in the Tzu Chi USA Free Clinic. There are two sub-laboratories with two full-time workers and four volunteers, all specialists in biology, chemistry, medicine, and bone marrow transplant. The establishment of the Bone Marrow Matching Laboratory is critically important for analyzing blood samples, accumulating accurate test data, and offering counseling on marrow matching.

The Tzu Chi USA Marrow Donor Registry was founded on March 1, 1996. The registry offers counseling on bone marrow donation and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing and processes applications for bone marrow matching.

Registry offices in different regions often join local organizations to hold blood sampling drives for bone marrow donors. To fully utilize such experiences and collect blood samples, the Tzu Chi Registry has integrated Tzu Chi members in the entire US to unify procedures for blood sampling, organize bone marrow related operations, and pool blood samples of Asian donors, so that the whole system can be more effective, offering more opportunities for patients on the waiting list. Blood samples from Tzu Chi Registry offices nationwide can be entered into the data bank after analysis. To extend the services of the Bone Marrow Matching Laboratory, Tzu Chi USA is planning to hold blood sampling drives this year in Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Boston.

Tzu Chi Free Clinic Helps People in Mountain Areas of LA

Humanity transcends race and religion. On February 25, 1996, doctors, dentists, nurses and other members of the Tzu Chi Free Clinic provided free treatment to low-income Hispanics living in the mountain areas of San Bernardino, Los Angeles.

It was freezing cold and raining cats and dogs on that day. However, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., six school buses shuttled back and forth between the mountain areas and the Free Clinic to pick up the patients. A total of 358 patients were treated.

Because these people lacked convenient transportation, the clinic especially invited x-ray and laboratory technicians to help give free treatment. Doctors of obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, pediatrics, gastroenterology, and both Chinese and Western family medicine also took part in the activity. Dr. Ming-chang Hsu, director of the clinic, said, "We discovered patients with special cases who needed to undergo surgery immediately, and a few unusual cases needed to be reported to the Bureau of Public Hygiene for further diagnosis. Certainly, the Tzu Chi Free Clinic will not only continue to follow up these cases, but also offer medical aid to these people on a long-term basis."

TCTMDR Awarded Medical Devotion Award

On February 10, 1996, the sixth Medical Devotion Award Ceremony was held at Taipei City Hall. The Tzu Chi Taiwan Marrow Donor Registry (TCTMDR) was awarded the "Group Award" for its contributions in coordinating public resources, holding 47 marrow donation blood test campaign activities, correcting fellow countrymen's misconceptions concerning marrow donations, and last but not least, establishing the largest marrow donor data bank for blood disease victims of Chinese descent. Dr. Wen-bing Tzeng, director of Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, accepted the award on behalf of TCTMDR. Apart from expressing his gratitude for the encouragement of the government, Director Tzeng also expressed his hope that there will be another 100,000 marrow donors in the near future.

During the press conference after the award ceremony, Director Tzeng also gave a short speech. "TCTMDR collected 115,692 marrow donors within a span of two and a half years, and so far it has accomplished 28 non-relative marrow transplants. Many thanks to all the Tzu Chi members who devoted themselves to the promotion campaigns, and especially to all the marrow donor volunteers. Without them, there would be no TCTMDR."

Tzu Chi and SAVHL Offer Lunch to Homeless

On March 5, 1996, twenty volunteers from the Tzu Chi branch office in Canada prepared substantial Chinese food for 500 homeless and poor people at the Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light (SAVHL). When they saw what they were going to have, many people exclaimed, "Chinese food! I love it!" Some expressed their gratitude with a shy smile while they enjoyed the lunch. According to Gary Ho, chief executive officer of the Tzu Chi branch office, local Tzu Chi members decided to cooperate with SAVHL to help the homeless and poor by offering them hot Chinese food once a month.

Major Fame, the chief executive officer of SAVHL, said gratefully, "Because of the depression, it's getting harder and harder to raise food for the needy, whereas more and more people are waiting for help. During the past year, Tzu Chi has become one of the largest charity groups that offers help. Most of the needy are immigrants. They seek help temporarily because of financial difficulties."

Best Social Service Award Given to
Tzu Chi Members in Seattle

According to a March 16 report by the Mandarin TV Station in Seattle, the Best Social Service Award was given to Tzu Chi members by United Cerebral Palsy on Feb. 29, 1996, as a recognition for the love which Tzu Chi volunteers have given for a long time.

United Cerebral Palsy in Seattle cares for 57 patients. Tzu Chi members started to pay regular visits in October 1993 to bring care and concern to the patients, lead them in recreational activities, and put on interesting performances for them. Although cerebral palsy victims are physically weak, their minds are very alert. Sister Lui-fei Liao said that one of the patients, by constantly shaking her head and hand, requested her to take out from the back pocket of her wheelchair a 19-page draft of her unfinished autobiography. She had typed it letter by letter for two years by using a special device fixed on her head. She wanted to show it to her fellow patients to encourage them to emulate her perseverance and do whatever they wanted to do. She said that physical disability was not so dreadful, but mental disability would be miserable.

Donation of Sterilization Equipment to Mt. Druitt Hospital

On March 12, 1996, Tzu Chi members in Sydney, Australia, attended a tea party at Mt. Druitt Hospital to see the operation of the sterilization equipment donated by Tzu Chi. Mr. Colin, the executive officer for the administration of the hospital, expressed his gratitude to Tzu Chi people for their generous donation of money so that the hospital could buy new sterilization equipment.

The equipment in Mt. Druitt Hospital had been out of order due to long service and lack of maintenance. Because the original supplier had gone out of business, the equipment could not be repaired. Therefore, surgeons could not perform any operations.

Due to the economic depression, the Australian government could not allocate any money for the hospital to buy new sterilizers. The Tzu Chi Liaison Office in Sydney learned of the embarrassing situation at the hospital and resolved to raise funds to solve the problem.

Medical Equipment Donated to Street
Children's Home in Argentina

Tzu Chi has been giving long-term care to "Los Carasucias," a street children's home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On April 11, the relief issuing day, Tzu Chi delivered a gynecological examination table, medical instruments and a scale for babies, along with the regular relief items of rice, powdered milk, over 100 pairs of shoes, hats, and about 300 kilograms of vegetables.

Every day, the home serves 600-700 free meals to homeless people and children, regardless of their race and nationality. Free medical services are provided for those who live too far away to go to a public hospital and those who are too poor to pay the medical expenses. The clinic has three beds and the support of three doctors who perform their services free of charge.

Sport Shoes and Stationery to School in Argentina

Students in Argentina, South America now are not only busy with school work, but are also fighting the cold. Finding out last year that students in the #28 Primary School in the San Martin district of Buenos Aires could not afford to buy notebooks, Tzu Chi people started to prepare school articles for them. The Tzu Chi members hoped that students could enjoy warm feet as well as clear heads in the chilly winter. On March 23 and April 12, Tzu Chi delivered notebooks and sport shoes to the school. At the sight of hundreds of boxes of shoes and piles of notebooks, the principal called happily for the students to come receive the donation. Seeing the new notebooks, the students' eyes sparkled with hope and gratitude. Children not aware of their size raised their feet high in the air for the teachers to measure.

The #28 Primary School is situated in the slum area of San Martin. Tzu Chi members have visited regularly since August 1995. They have collected used clothes to donate to needy families. Hoping to see the seeds of education sprout and blossom in the future, Tzu Chi people have also donated teaching materials and offered prizes to students who have shown excellent performance in school and those who have never been absent from class.

Tzu Chi Stamps Issued by the Directorate General of Posts

The Directorate General of Posts in Taiwan issued two new stamps to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Tzu Chi Foundation. An issuance ceremony took place on May 11, 1996, to coincide with Tzu Chi's anniversary. A temporary post office was set up at the Abode of Still Thoughts and at the Still Thoughts Hall in Hualien to sell commemorative stamps, first day stamped envelopes and protective cards.

There are two Tzu Chi stamps. The NT$5.00 stamp contains the subject of charity. The subject of the NT$19.00 stamp is medicine. Both stamps read "The Compassion of Tzu Chi, the Love of All People."

According to the designer, Professor Tsung-hsiung Su of the Chinese Culture University, the lotus flower and Buddha's hand are the main themes in the design of the Tzu Chi stamps. They vividly symbolize Buddha's "great mercy even to strangers and great compassion for all," and the Tzu Chi spirit of "work willingly and receive happily." The people in Buddha's hand and in the lotus flower represent all who have received Tzu Chi's great love without regard for race, color or nationality. Under Tzu Chi's love and care, the people suffering from poverty, portrayed in the five-dollar stamp, appear peaceful and contented. The sick person in the 19-dollar stamp looks off into the future and the hope for a new life.

Master Cheng Yen expressed her gratitude to the Directorate General of Posts for their affirmation of Tzu Chi. She also expects that all Tzu Chi members will walk onward together at the beginning of another 30 years of hard work.

Embracing Mexican School Children With Love

On April 15, twelve Tzu Chi San Diego branch members, together with Mexican officials, carried basketballs, footballs and ball pumps, along with several sets of cleaning tools to donate to Capet Primary School in Mexicali City. This was a part of a donation plan for some 50 primary schools.

Capet Primary School is located in a remote, isolated village. Most of the 180 families there are poor. The school has only eight classrooms and is so short of funds that they even asked for one extra set of cleaning tools for sweeping the kitchen. The children were so excited when they saw the balls being pumped up. They played happily with the Tzu Chi brothers. One of the teachers was moved to tears.

After that, the Tzu Chi members went to the Ejido Medita Nursing Home to donate chairs, food and clothes to the old folks there. Brother Szu-hsien Huang told them that according to Buddha's teaching, Tzu Chi members treat all elders as their own parents.

Officials of the Social Bureau (DIF) of Mexicali City accompanied the Tzu Chi members on this trip. Tzu Chi has undertaken several relief missions in Marita and Pipila since the Mexico office was set up in January in Tijuana, near the US-Mexico border.

Tzu Chi Relieves Snow Victims in Chinghai Province

This last winter, Chinghai Province was devastated by snowstorms such as the inhabitants had never experienced before. The temperature dropped as low as minus 47 degrees Celsius [-53 F]. More than 60,000 Tibetans in the Yushu Autonomous Region faced serious threat. Some 20,000 people suffered frostbite or snowblindness. At least 100,000 victims were short of food. An estimated 630,000 yaks, sheep and horses died because of the extreme cold and lack of grass. Some herdsmen fed the animals with their own food trying to keep them alive. Unfortunately, they lost both their food and the animals.

A Tzu Chi investigation team led by Master The Huai and Mr. Tuan-cheng Wang, vice CEO of Tzu Chi, traveled more than 800 kilometers along winding mountain roads. After seven days, they reached the Chinghai plateau, 4,500 meters [14,850 ft] above sea level. After investigation, the Tzu Chi Foundation decided to give two months' grain and some money to victims in the most devastated four counties. The principle was to let the victims have enough to live on until June, when the grass will grow from the earth and the cattle will have something to eat.

Aboriginal Students for Nursing College

With special permission from the Ministry of Education, the Tzu Chi Junior College of Nursing will independently hold an entrance examination for aboriginal students.

This special project will permit 50 female aboriginal graduates from junior high school to enter the nursing college. The aboriginal entrants will be exempted from tuition and given a monthly allowance with no obligation after graduation. The subjects to be tested on the examination will be Chinese, English, math, science, and social studies.

Gratitude and Music for SA Branch's Fourth Anniversary

On April 14, the Tzu Chi South Africa Branch marked its fourth anniversary with a music party in Johannesburg. Approximately 1,000 people, including guests and people cared for by Tzu Chi, joined the party to show their gratitude for Tzu Chi's brotherhood.

Hundreds of South Africans from Thusano Relief Center, Sisters of Mercy and the Sparrow School Educational Trust expressed their gratitude to Tzu Chi in dramas, songs, and dances. Their simple rhythms and sincere smiles aroused the audience's sympathy. The warm short drama played by Thusano Relief Center members, who had received a donation of sewing machines and electric irons from Tzu Chi, portrayed the process of how they earned their own living by making and selling clothes. Moreover, they donated part of their profits to help other people living in poverty. The energetic traditional song and dance performed by people from the Sparrow School Educational Trust, an organization which takes care of uneducated and retarded children, excited everybody's feelings.

Tzu Chi always gives a hand to those who need help most, said Mrs. Nzo, wife of the South African minister of foreign affairs. In her eyes, Tzu Chi is a charitable organization well-known to the world. She herself has experienced Master Cheng Yen's generous principle that to do is more important than to say.