Winter Coats to Liberia

An oil tanker with a "tanker-load" of love from Taiwan arrived in Liberia on June 24 with a forty-foot container of clothes and blankets to bring warmth to the hearts of Liberians.

In order to show their appreciation for Tzu Chi's assistance to their people, the embassy held the donation ceremony on May 21 in the embassy. Ambassador John Cummrines accepted a symbolic box from a Tzu Chi representative. He noted that because of the recent civil unrest in Liberia, all the daily necessities were in short supply. Tzu Chi's donation would help to relieve the suffering of Liberians.

Japan Marrow Registry Thanks Tzu Chi

The Tzu Chi Japan branch has been helping to promote bone marrow donation in Japan. On May 17, at a national meeting of registry volunteers in Niigata, the Japan Marrow Donor Registry Promotion Conference presented a certificate of appreciation to Sister Hsieh Fu-mei on behalf of the Tzu Chi Japan branch.

During the meeting, the president of the association, Mrs. Kaifu Sajiyo, commended the good work of Tzu Chi in promoting marrow donation. She also reaffirmed the efforts of Tzu Chi members in both Taiwan and Japan for establishing a link between the two organizations. She observed that the Japanese registry had been promoting marrow donation for five years and had registered more than 80,000 volunteer donors, while the Tzu Chi bone marrow registry in Taiwan had enlisted more than 140,000 donors in only three years. She encouraged the Japanese registry to continue carrying out its work.

"Taiwan Tzu Chi Day" in Australia

Since 1994, Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Brisbane has celebrated "Tzu Chi Day" on the first Sunday in July. On this year's Tzu Chi Day, July 6, hospital staff informed the public about Tzu Chi's contributions to the hospital, and former hospital director Sister Angela Mary Doyle handed out a certificate to every Tzu Chi youth who volunteered at the hospital.

At the banquet, hospital director Mark Avery commended Tzu Chi for its contributions. He also thanked Master Cheng Yen for first planting seeds of goodness 31 years ago. He hoped that Mater Misericordiae Hospital could also be like Tzu Chi Hospital in providing the best service to patients.

Cakes to Rescue Team

When a landslide occurred at a famous ski resort about 400 km south of Sydney, Australia, in August, members of the Tzu Chi Australia branch office immediately delivered more than 800 pieces of cake to rescue team members at the site for their breakfast. They also kept in contact with the emergency rescue center in order to provide any further assistance.

Bruce Pains, director of the rescue center, informed Sydney Tzu Chi members that temperatures at the mountain were bitterly cold, so the 700 rescue workers needed high-calorie food to sustain their strength. Thirty Tzu Chi members went at once to buy 103 kg [226.6 lb] of cakes. Within four hours, they divided the cakes into 824 pieces for rescue workers to carry around conveniently.

In order to deliver these cakes 550 km to the rescue workers early the next morning, four Tzu Chi members set out at midnight on August 3 and reached the mountain a little after 6 a.m. on August 4. Rescue workers who had been working day and night smiled happily. They appreciated the warm-heartedness and the kindness of Tzu Chi members for bringing them the urgently needed food.

New Office in Hawaii

The Hawaiian liaison office celebrated its first anniversary and the official opening of its new office on March 17 at the Chinese Culture Center Plaza. The celebration attracted close to 3,000 visitors. Donations were solicited for a new Tzu Chi free clinic that would be opened on June 1.

Traditional Chinese food, flowers, cultural products, books, handicrafts, and free clinical services were provided at 34 booths. There were long lines at the free clinic booths, where 18 doctors from Sturb Hospital provided all sorts of free services. This was also a warm-up for the opening of the free clinic. Twelve volunteer marrow donors had blood tests.

"With our vow, we have finally done it," said Sister Tzu Kuang after the ceremony was over.

The Tzu Chi Hawaii office currently has two commissioners, 150 volunteers and 500 members. Their work includes looking after needy individuals, visiting nursing homes and cleaning up streets. The Tzu Chi Humanities School was opened on June 16 last year and there are now more than 100 students in 12 classes. From June 1, the liaison office will provide family medical services to local poor people from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Sunday.

Tzu Chi Hawaii can be contacted at:
100 N. Beretania Street, Suite 122
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 537-2235
Fax: (808) 537-2638
Aid to Azerbaijan

As a result of the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Azerbaijan lost 20% of its richest land. Since the signing of the peace treaty three years ago, about one million Azerbaijanis have become homeless. Over 300,000 refugees now live in refugee camps in Azerbaijan.

Tzu Chi received letters from the University of London and from the deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan, requesting Tzu Chi to provide humanitarian aid to the country.

After a year of investigation, Tzu Chi headquarters, the government of Azerbaijan, the University of London and the Leonard Chessire Chair Foundation worked out a three-year relief plan.

After flying for more than 20 hours, a team of relief workers arrived in Azerbaijan on June 21. The next day, they started to distribute relief supplies in Saatli, Sabirabad, Aghjabadi and Barda. In all, 1,500 tents, 100 wheelchairs, and 10 containers of clothes and blankets were handed out.

Lady Tuti Try Sutrisno Visits Tzu Chi US Branch

Lady Tuti Try Sutrisno, wife of the Indonesian vice president, visited the Tzu Chi Los Angeles free clinic to observe its operation and equipment. She also visited the Still Thoughts Hall for a briefing on the development of Tzu Chi in the United States.

Lady Sutrisno recently set up a charity foundation in Indonesia. She plans to establish a free hospital about 40 km west of Jakarta, which will adopt the administrative style of the Tzu Chi free clinic, so she especially came here to observe and learn from the clinic's experience.

"I hope that everyone can do his or her best to extend a hand to the needy." Lady Sutrisno indicated that she was like a Tzu Chi member, looking for all sorts of ways to help the needy. "After the hospital is completed, I hope my daughter, who is learning medicine, can go to help."

Wells, Clothes and Classrooms

The first well dug by Tzu Chi was completed on June 26 in Vuku Zakhe district, Ladysmith, South Africa. More than 200 households in the area can now have clean drinking water. Tzu Chi plans to dig 30 more wells in the next year to benefit poor residents outside the district.

In the past, the residents had to walk for three hours to collect one bucket of water. However, the water was not clean and often made the people sick. Tzu Chi members in Ladysmith went to the local government to discuss digging wells to help the residents.

The first well was finished ahead of schedule and below the estimated cost. Tzu Chi plans to dig 30 more wells within 50 to 100 km around the district to benefit 40,000 residents. It is estimated that it will take a year to complete the work.

Tzu Chi members also distributed used clothes and corn powder to local residents in the same area. Members from Taiwan and Durban, South Africa, presented pens and backpacks to students of Vuku Zakhe Elementary School. Tzu Chi added ten new classrooms to the school. The school principal indicated that because of Tzu Chi's dedication, 400 students could now receive proper education in a good environment.

A Warm Winter

On June 28, Tzu Chi members from Johannesburg went to Golden Highway and Lenasia Ext. 8 in South Africa to distribute loads of winter garments from Taiwan to residents in those areas.

Simon Zwane, chairperson of Golden Highway, introduced Tzu Chi in the Zulu and Sotho languages. Brother Lu Yu-hsing used English to talk about the purpose of this visit. Then, Tzu Chi members started distributions in the Greater Slovo Park. Close to 1,000 households received winter clothes. On the same day, 480 households in Lenasia Ext. 8 also received winter clothes from Tzu Chi.

Tzu Chi Language Center Officially Opened

With the help of New Zealand Tzu Chi members, two language center classrooms in Glendowie College, Aukland, were officially opened in the name of Tzu Chi. On May 2, the college held the opening ceremony, attended by members of Parliament, the college board of governors, the college president, and more than 200 local Chinese.

Because of the influx of Asian immigrants to the city, the college was unable to provide sufficient equipment for Asian students to receive proper English training. After discussions between the college and parents, Tzu Chi members decided to help raise funds for the classrooms. Work was completed in May 1997.

Scholarships to 38 Students

On June 1, in order to help students in poverty to continue their studies, Tzu Chi members in the Philippines awarded scholarships to 38 students whose English grades were ranked in the top three of their classes. Tzu Chi also provided either half or the full amount of tuition fees for 249 other students.

The Philippine liaison office started granting scholarships two years ago. The number of applicants has increased year after year, and this year more than 300 students applied.

The ceremony was held in a Chinese school auditorium on June 1. Sister Tzu Chien, director of the liaison office, wished good luck to all the students that they would study hard and contribute their knowledge to society in the future.

Ninth Free Clinic in the Philippines

The ninth free clinic in the Philippines took place between July 24 and 26 in the city of Cagayan de Oro, provincial capital of Misamis Oriental. This time, 114 medical staff and volunteers from Taiwan and the Philippines treated 5,033 patients, the largest number in all the free clinics so far.

Fishermen in nearby islets and farmers in mountainous areas have a difficult life and must frequently postpone medical treatment.

Sister Tzu Chien, in charge of the Philippine branch, remarked that with the opening of their own office in August, all the medicine and medical equipment that were scattered in members' homes could be brought together in one place, making it easier to carry out clinical services.

A Living Bodhisattva

Mother Teresa of Calcutta died on September 6, and a memorial service was held on September 10 in Taiwan. Although Master Cheng Yen was unable to attend the service, she sent 20 Tzu Chi commissioners to pay respects to Mother Teresa. The Master remarked that the good deeds of Mother Teresa had touched the hearts of millions of people all over the world. "Right now, her followers in many parts of the world are spreading the Gospel and the universal love of Mother Teresa. I believe that her spirit will be everlasting."

Mother Teresa visited Taiwan several years ago and introduced the Missionaries of Charity to Taiwan. Currently, there are branches in Taipei and Tainan. Tzu Chi members and Mother Teresa's sisters have cooperated in helping the needy in these two cities.