Shih Cheng Yen's Blog, page 3

Great Love Village School in Jakarta Transforms Lives

“Through education, we believed the children could have a better future. So, we worked hard to ensure that all children could access education, and hoped to transform the lives of entire families," Hong Tjhin expressed his gratitude for being part of this project.

Celebrating 20 Years of Hope in Great Love Village, Jakarta

On August 26, 2023, joy and gratitude filled the air at the Tzu Chi Great Love Village in Jakarta, in West Java, Indonesia. Tzu Chi volunteers, members, and villagers gathered in the auditorium of the Great Love School Kindergarten to celebrate the "20th Anniversary of Tzu Chi Great Love Village in Cengkareng." To honor the 20-year history of the Great Love Village, Jakarta's Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono, graced the occasion and joined in the festivities.

Ex-Singapore Foreign Minister Thanks Tzu Chi for Saving His Son

"My son carries half of Taiwanese blood in him, so he is also Taiwanese." On the morning of September 11th, former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo (楊榮文), his family and friends, made a special trip to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and the Jing Si Abode, just before the 30th-anniversary celebration of the Tzu Chi Stem Cells Center. They came to express their deepest gratitude to Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi, and the team of the Tzu Chi Stem Cells Center for saving Yeo’s son, Yeo Sze Hong (楊時弘), by giving him a transplant of hematopoietic stem cells in 2004 that saved his life.

Taiwanese Tzu Chi Youth's Journey of Compassion in Nepal

"What is ‘spreading the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings'?” After a trip to Lumbini, Nepal, Tzu Chi volunteer Chang Hui-Wen (張惠雯) understood.

Tzu Chi Rebuilds Lives After Devastating Wildfires in Hawaii

“We’re happy and very grateful to have this opportunity to practice gratitude, respect, and love,” said Jerome Fan, Executive Director Tzu Chi Pacific Islands Region, before the first distribution on August 27 in Maui in the American state of Hawaii.

September 8 marked a month since devastating wildfires in Maui raged out of control, killed more than 100 people and destroyed a historic part of the island and many homes.

On August 27, the Tzu Chi USA Pacific Islands Regional Office hosted its first emergency cash card distribution to help households who had lost their homes in  Maui. The effort involved volunteers from across the United States, and especially from across the Hawaiian Islands.

These cash cards, with money available for immediate use, enabled an individual or head of household to cover their most pressing needs, whether it was temporary housing, medical expenses, food, water, clothing and shoes, gas, diapers/baby formula, and so much more. Tzu Chi also provided eco-blankets, food, and personal care supplies to make their lives more comfortable.

On September 3rd, over 40 volunteers from Oahu Island boarded the early morning flight to the disaster-stricken area of Maui to carry out a second  distribution of cash cards; they assisted a total of 300 families. This time, there were also spiritual care providers and psychotherapists in the group; the presence of three generations working together was heartwarming.

Tzu Chi volunteer Shiulina Wu said: "This is my mother, this is my grandfather, this is my grandmother. Being able to volunteer together is a great blessing for me."

The volunteers sincerely prayed for the disaster-affected residents and made a commitment to practical assistance in rebuilding their homes. It was Tzu Chi's second visit to the island for cash card distribution. Everyone patiently waited outside, to receive both tangible aid and heartfelt blessings.

Volunteer Gary Permenter described it as a wonderful experience to be able to do good on a Sunday. Volunteer Thomas said that donating money to families in need was a very good experience. He also helped with procurement, but felt it was not enough; so he came directly to the distribution site to assist those families and see how the donations were being used.

In total, on September 3rd, 300 families received assistance, and more local residents are joining the ranks of volunteers. The accumulation of small acts of love is gradually healing this wounded land.

A Jing Si Aphorism says: “Life is impermanent. It exists only in the space of a breath.”

Join Tzu Chi. Let us live out the value of our life.

 

Watch the videos of our relief distributions:

Distribution on September 3, 2023

Distribution on August 27, 2023

Tzu Chi Prepares for Emergency Aid on Maui

To learn more about Help Heal Maui

 

Tzu Chi Helps Renovate Home of Nepali Girl

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On July 11, 2023, just before the rainy season, a team of six volunteers from the construction team arrived at the home of Srijana in the Nepali village where she lives with her family. Their mission was to repair the leaking roof in their kitchen.

Symposium on Ven. Cheng Yen's Philosophy and Leadership

“We are honored to have you join us at the Symposium on Ven. Cheng Yen's Philosophy and Leadership. This event marks the Ninth Tzu Chi Global Symposium for Common Goodness, a platform that brings us together in pursuit of a common mission - advancing toward a holistic understanding of Ven. Cheng Yen's teachings, and working out future possibilities for the Tzu Chi Movement,” said the emcee, Joe Huang (黃思浩), a Pure Practitioner from Hualien Jing-Si Abode on September 3 at the Geological Lecture Hall, in Harvard University in Boston, USA.

Tzu Chi Brings Hope to Nepali Girl

At an early age, Srijana lost her mother. Her father remarried and moved away, and she could only live with her grandparents. At the age of seventy, her grandmother worried about who would take care of Srijana should she become unable to work or pass away.

Poor Nepalese Family Saves Handful of Rice Each Day

The first Saturday of every month is Charity Distribution Day for the Tzu Chi volunteer team in Nepal. On July 1, 2023, under heavy rainfall, over forty volunteers from the team were divided into five groups, each with six to seven volunteers. Local volunteers assumed the role of group leaders.

In Taiwan, Promote Veganism to Nurture Life and Save the Earth

In the face of worsening global warming and rapid climate change, the World Vegan Organisation has proposed solutions that require everyone’s full cooperation.