GREAT LOVE ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAITS

Shanghai:

#Scholarships for students of Shanghai University

#Funding of a new medical building for the Oriental Liver and Gall Bladder Surgical Hospital

#Free clinics in remote areas, visits to old folks' homes

#Seven bone marrow transplants

Beijing:

#Subsidization of research funds for the Buddhist Music and Culture Department of the Central Music Institute

#Two joint sessions of the Chinese Youth Cultural Exchange Program in Beijing University

#Six bone marrow transplants

Upholding the conviction of "serve the local people" advocated by Master Cheng Yen, the Tzu Chi volunteers of Shanghai, together with local philanthropists and Taiwanese businessmen trading in mainland China, have been diligently promoting charity work in local communities for many years. Their activities include regular visits to old folks' homes, biweekly free clinics in remote areas, street cleaning, and caring for low-income and underprivileged households. Their efforts have been widely recognized by local people, and in 1995 the Shanghai government conferred on the Tzu Chi chapter a certificate of honor.

The Shanghai Tzu Chi volunteers have also spread Great Love to remote mountain areas. With their help, the Baizhu Tzu Chi Primary School in Yichun, Jiangxi, was built in 1997 and the Wuwan Tzu Chi Primary School in Danzhai, Guizhou, in 1999. Built with the love of the volunteers, these schools brought hope to local children.

Shanghai itself received help from Taiwan as well. The Shanghai Oriental Liver and Gall Bladder Surgical Hospital is the only hospital in China that specializes in liver and gall bladder surgery. Liver cancer patients from all over mainland China, Southeast Asia, Hongkong and Macau have come here to seek treatment. However, due to the limited number of sickbeds, many cancer patients were being turned away and many had died because of delayed treatment. When the Taiwan Tzu Chi people learnt about the situation, they donated forty million RMB (US$4.8 million) for the construction of a new hospital building. In August 1997, the foundation of the new building was laid. Designed by Tzu Chi volunteer Hsu Chang-chi, the building was named the "Tzu Chi Building."

In 1996, the Tzu Chi Honorary Board members choir, the Tzu Chi Youth Association choir and students from Beijing University held a joint concert in Beijing. The event marked the beginning of a new friendship between the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association of Taiwan and the students of Beijing University.

In August 1998, the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth visited Beijing again on a ten-day cultural exchange program. The activity was aimed at imparting to the participants a common understanding of Great Love, broader viewpoints and the ideal of serving people. These outstanding youths were the future pillars of society. It was important to disseminate the seeds of love in their hearts and let them realize the art of compassionate giving.

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