Culture of Volunteerism Eliminates Distance

Ken Allen, president of the International Association for Volunteer Effort, met with Master Cheng Yen at the Tzu Chi Taipei branch office on February 26.

The IAVE is an international non-governmental organization that was set up in 1970. The organization has been trying to overcome the alienation caused by different racial backgrounds, education, income level, and other factors. Allen remarked that he hoped to overcome national boundaries and gather all like-minded organizations to work together for a culture of volunteerism.

Allen was amazed at the huge number of Tzu Chi volunteers around the world. He commented that the outreach of Tzu Chi members to the public was a very attractive way to bring more people to join the organization.

He also stated that the concept of community volunteering promoted by Tzu Chi was highly regarded by his association. He believed that when the concept of community volunteering was realized in every community, it would create a much more harmonious society.

On February 27, Allen went to Hualien to visit the Tzu Chi Hospital to learn more about Tzu Chi. He was especially impressed with the fact that hospital volunteers leave behind their observation records of patients. In this way, future volunteers who take over the job can have a better knowledge about the patients and their needs.

Free Medical Services in Vietnam

The Tzu Chi Vietnam liaison office held its second free medical clinic from May 17 to 19 in the eighth district in Ho Chi Min City. It was estimated that 2,467 people came for the service.

Of the city's twelve districts, the eighth is the poorest. Since medical fees are rather high in Vietnam--US$4 for people with an average income of only US$50 a month--many people can only wait for their illnesses to swallow them.

Many patients were veterans of the Vietnam War, and many of them were handicapped. Seeing them before your eyes was like seeing the war again. One local volunteer said the pain and the suffering of these veterans and anyone who experienced it could only be healed by love. Participating in this activity allowed him and others to personally help those in need.

Handing Out Love to Northern Thailand

A book bag may be nothing to a child in Taiwan, but it is something rare for a child in northern Thailand. The Thai-Taiwan Business and Industry Enterprisers Association was able to collect 12,000 book bags. On February 1 and 11, Tzu Chi members from Thailand and Taiwan went to Hsinchai, Hualiang, Makangshan, Mafang, and Ankang villages to distribute book bags, stationery, cookies, soccer balls and volleyballs to children.

Rainstorms Force People from Their Homes

El Nino caused heavy rainstorms in northern California and great destruction to highways, roads, power lines, and other facilities. More than 90,000 residents had no power and many became homeless.

On February 8, Tzu Chi members in San Jose prepared food and clothing for refugees in a Salvation Army shelter in Menlo Park. The shelter had around 160 refugees, but with the expansion of the disaster areas, more and more people went to the shelter for protection.

On February 21, Tzu Chi members from San Jose went to Guerneville to distribute winter coats, blankets, food, and other daily necessities to local flood victims.

Free Clinic in the Philippines

From February 19 to 21, the eleventh free medical clinic was held in a cultural center in San Fernando, La Union Province. Tzu Chi members arranged for a special vehicle equipped with an X-ray machine to provide better service. Members also transported patients to a nearby hospital for any advanced tests if necessary.

The poor economic situation, especially in remote villages, prevents many Filipinos from receiving any medical help. For instance, 76-year-old farmer Ceazaria Flores had cataracts in both eyes. He originally hoped to have an operation so that he would not be a burden to his family, but he could not afford the expensive surgery. When Dr. Co of the free clinic team agreed to operate on him, he was overjoyed.

At the opening of the clinic, city mayor Manuel C. Ortega presented an honorary key to the city to thank the Tzu Chi team for providing medical assistance to the needy.

New Home!

The Tzu Chi liaison office in South Africa has been promoting Tzu Chi missions, such as building schools, drilling wells, and other activities. Because of their heavy workload, they were in great need of new office space. On February 15, they finally moved into a new office. The new address is as follows:

3 6th St., Linden 2195, J.H.B. Republic of South Africa
Tel/Fax: 27-11-7826830

A Heart String May Day Celebration

On May 1, 1998, to initiate the celebration of Singapore Labour Day as well as Vesak Month activities, the Tzu Chi Cultural Mission in Singapore organized an outing for their special guests, forty residents of Kwang Wai Shiu Hospital and View Road Hospital.

Tzu Chi members first took the guests on a nature walk through Sembawang Park. Brother Che She then led morning breathing exercises, followed by kite flying and singing.

At noon, buses brought everyone to the Sembawang Community Centre for lunch. The center Women's Club performed a folk dance and led karaoke singing to entertain the guests. After lunch, volunteers also provided an air-conditioned room for free haircuts.

A song and dance performance by Tzu Chi members was the highlight of the day. After a group photo was taken, the guests were taken back to their respective hospitals.

On the way home, the fourteen Tzu Chi Youth Corps volunteers who had participated in the day's activities shared their thoughts. Most of them expressed their willingness to continue their voluntary services in these two hospitals during their mid-term holiday.

Military Helps Distribute Relief Supplies

El Nino has brought various disasters around the globe. In northern Argentina, it has caused floods in Chaco and Corrientes Provinces, and many people have lost their homes and have had to live in old factories, warehouses or even under plastic sheets.

Tzu Chi members in Argentina first went to inspect the disaster areas from May 6 to 8. From May 9 to 15, they distributed 1,183 blankets, corn powder, sugar, flour, rice, cooking oil and other food supplies to 801 refugee families in 15 areas. The floods had destroyed many of the roads, so the Argentinean military dispatched vehicles to transport Tzu Chi members and relief supplies to the disaster areas.

Singapore Cultural Center Now on the Web

The Tzu Chi Cultural Center in Singapore is officially on the web. Besides learning about Tzu Chi, its publications, and recent news, one may also order books through the web site.

The URL of the web site is: tzuchi-sg.org.

If you want to contact them, their e-mail address is: tzuchisg@pacific.net.sg.

Building Roads in Northern Thailand

In the middle of May this year, Tzu Chi members in Thailand visited Tzu Chi Huihe Village, which they had helped to rebuild a few years ago. Residents worked very hard in agriculture. However, the mountain roads were rather rough. In addition, during the rainy season from June to September, the muddy roads made it very difficult to transport agricultural products to the cities, which in turn affected the livelihood of the villagers.

In order to resolve this problem, the Tzu Chi members and villagers worked together to rebuild the road connecting the village and the outside world. They all hope the 1,300 m. [0.8 mi] road can make it easier for villagers to sell their agricultural products in the cities and improve their lives.

Free Medical Services in Indonesia

From May 9 to 12, Tzu Chi members in Indonesia held their fourth free medical clinic in East Java. This time, more than 4,000 people were treated.

One elementary school teacher remarked that because the village had a serious shortage of available medical supplies, sick children could not be properly treated. He was delighted to see the medical team arrive to provide medical help to the villagers, including these students.

An old woman named Rukina was brought by her family to the clinic. Her right eye was blind and her left eye had a serious cataract. She didn't want to be a burden to her family, so she wanted the doctor to treat her eyes. However, when she was told that she needed cataract surgery in a city hospital, she immediately drew back. She said that she had never left her village and she wasn't familiar with the city. Even though some Tzu Chi members and some doctors promised to help her, she still rejected their assistance. There are many people like her who have never left their home villages and who have doubts about modern medical treatment. Therefore, many patients delay their treatment and their illnesses become worse. Thus, there is a need to teach people about the importance of medical treatment.

Violence in Indonesia Not Hampering Tzu Chi's Determination

On May 24, Tzu Chi members from Indonesia came to the Taipei branch office to report to Master Cheng Yen on conditions after the recent social unrest in that country.

Even after the recent outbreak of violence in Indonesia, most Tzu Chi members there still feel that the locals are simple, nice people. They promised that the Tzu Chi missions there would be carried out as before, and they had already begun to draft plans to hand out food to needy families.

From May 9 to 12, local Tzu Chi members flew to four towns in East Java to provide free medical services. It was estimated that more than 4,000 people received medical help. Seeing the smiling faces of these Indonesians during the medical services, Tzu Chi members believed that peace would eventually arrive in Indonesia when Tzu Chi's missions were carried out.

Tzu Chi US Inspects Disasters in Peru

El Nino brought heavy rainstorms to the normally dry land of Peru. Local people watched helplessly as their homes were destroyed by floods.

Huang Yu-ling, a travel agent in Peru, came back to Taiwan to attend Tzu Chi's thirty-second anniversary. She informed Tzu Chi headquarters in Hualien about the disasters in Peru, and the information was relayed to offices in the United States. On May 16, the Tzu Chi branch offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and Texas dispatched a team of seven people to inspect conditions in Peru.

In Chiclayo, a major disaster area in northwestern Peru, local residents were seen searching for food among rubble and garbage. Local houses were built of dirt and rocks and could not withstand the torrential rain. After the storms, not a single house was left standing and residents were forced to live in the streets. Diseases caused by contaminated drinking water and garbage everywhere threatened to make the situation even worse.

The local people have little education, so when Tzu Chi provides them with medical help, it will also be necessary to carefully inform them how to take the medicine.

The inspection team returned to the United States on May 18, and a relief plan is now being studied at the headquarters in Hualien.

Sending Marrow to Denmark

On May 18, Tzu Chi sent marrow to save a Korean living in Denmark. After the marrow was extracted at Tzu Chi Hospital in Hualien in the morning, it was immediately taken back by Lone Lythans Holst from the Danish marrow data bank. After a forty-hour flight, the marrow was injected into the patient's body.

Tzu Chi Free Clinic in Brazil