Humanitarian relief in Bedfordview
'Tzu Chi' means compassion relief and under the leadership of Master Cheng Yen, volunteers conduct, among other things, humanitarian relief around the globe.
After 30 years of humanitarian work in South Africa the Tzu Chi Foundation opened the Jing Si Hall in Bedfordview.
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The event on June 18 was attended by dignitaries and volunteers from five countries.
Translated Tzu Chi means compassion relief and under the leadership of master Cheng Yen volunteers conduct, among other things, humanitarian relief around the globe.
The Buddhist charity organisation boasts 10 million volunteer members around the world.
“Tzu Chi volunteers work in the areas of medicine, humanitarian relief, education and culture.
“At any moment we have volunteers ready to help anywhere,” said South African CEO Tim Huang.
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Tzu Chi started in 1966 as a cooperative consisting of Yen and mainly housewives who would collect small change in bamboo banks to help those in need.
“The foundation started from a shack in Eastern Taiwan and the money collected was used to run winter relief programmes.
“Volunteers would hand out food parcels. Today we still run our winter relief. In Johannesburg we help 10 schools in Thembisa and over 1 000 people in Primrose,” said Huang.
He added Yen realised that many people are staying in poverty because of illness and she set out to build a teaching hospital.
Today the foundation runs more than 10 hospitals around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of people.
“All our monasteries are self-sufficient which means that the funds we raise are used for the foundation.
“We believe that if you have 500 people with two hands to focus on one compassionate cause, you can achieve miracles.
“When you have passion and speak out, people will listen and help.”
Volunteers from global Tzu Chi have aided and assisted those in need following some of the biggest natural disasters.
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“We have friends around the world and want to be living in peace with all living beings.”
The Bedfordview hall will be the base of operations for Tzu Chi projects across the African continent.
In the future, the organisation hopes to showcase Buddhism through various events at the Bedfordview base.
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