ENVELOPING THE WORLD WITH GREAT LOVE

In the summer of 1993, Nepal, one of the ten poorest countries in the world, experienced heavy rains that caused three major rivers to overflow in the southern and eastern parts of the country. Thousands of people died, and the number of victims affected by the flood reached four hundred thousand.

Tzu Chi decided to construct houses for survivors in the three worst-hit provinces, which had received little aid. From seven parcels of land provided by the Nepalese government, the foundation selected four lots that provided better accessibility, land safety and higher employment opportunities on which to construct 1,800 houses.

Tzu Chi held a public bidding for forty-five local grade-A companies. Two construction companies that demonstrated high efficiency and quality were contracted to construct the houses. The houses were built of brick, and metallic construction material was used to reinforce the doors, windows and roofs. All materials used were acquired locally to facilitate any future repair. Each household was allocated a cleared lot for basic farming, while a large park was shared by all.

All the houses were completed by July 1995. Survivors finally had homes to live in and land to farm. Income was generated from crops as well as livestock kept in the back of the houses. Some victims earned their livelihood through professions such as sewing and gradually improved their living conditions.

"To take good care of our beautiful new home, we have formed a community management committee," a resident said on behalf of one community. "Residents will soon be mobilized to grow fruit trees in the community park. This will beautify the environment, and the proceeds from selling the fruits can go to the community fund."

Tzu Chi's principle of directness in its relief operations enabled relief funds to be used entirely for the victims and also ensured high efficiency. This attitude influenced Nepalese government officials, and ministers from the central government went to the disaster area to help coordinate the relief project. The chairman of Nepal's social welfare committee said that the fact that Tzu Chi had come from so far to help flood victims there made it all the more essential for the government to improve its administrative efficiency.

Nepal was the birthplace of the founding saint of Buddhism, Sakyamuni Buddha, more than two thousand years ago. "The floodwaters were in Nepal, but the pain was felt by the Tzu Chi people in Taiwan," the vice-chairman of the social welfare committed remarked. "Tzu Chi commissioners untiringly raised funds to help Nepalese victims they had never met. This is the manifestation of the Buddha's spirit of Great Love."

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