Volunteers for the Taiwan-headquartered global Buddhist charity and humanitarian organization Tzu Chi Charity Foundation recently helped 171 families in Kura Village, Mozambique, to reclaim their community six years after they were torn apart by Cyclone Idai in March 2019.
At a handover ceremony on 11 June, 171 families received the keys to their new homes in the Kura Tzu Chi Great Love Village, a testament to the power of compassion to rebuild lives and restore hope.
“The [Kura Tzu Chi] Great Love Village is not just about rebuilding a community; it is a symbol of Nhamatanda’s progress towards development,” remarked the governor of Sofala Province in central Mozambique at the handover ceremony. He also expressed gratitude for the manifestation into reality of Tzu Chi’s pledge to deliver secure homes for the devastated community. (Tzu Chi Foundation)
Cyclone Idai was one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect Africa, bringing catastrophic damage a humanitarian crises in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. More than 1,500 people were killed and many more went missing. Idai has been ranked as the second-deadliest tropical cyclone on record.
In Sofala Province, tens of thousands of people were left homeless, including those in Kura Village, who lost their homes and livelihoods.
In the face of the humanitarian crisis, Tzu Chi committed to a long-term recovery plan across the region that included the construction of four Great Love Villages, representing a total of 3,128 homes and 23 schools, included 171 homes in Kura.
“The approach to rebuilding went beyond simply providing houses,” Tzu Chi Charity Foundation explained. “Through a work-for-relief program, residents were invited to take an active role in the construction. Guided by professional volunteers, they learned valuable building skills, from laying bricks to finishing walls. This initiative not only ensured the homes were built with care but also empowered the residents, giving them new skills and a renewed sense of ownership and confidence in their future.” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
In addition to new homes, Tzu Chi’s initiative includes establishing educational programs to help break the cycle of poverty: after-school tutoring classes to provide children with academic support; and adult literacy classes for parents and elders, bringing village residents new choices and opportunities.
“As families received the keys to their new homes, the village was filled with a sense of hope and accomplishment,” Tzu Chi Charity Foundation related. “The journey over the past six years has transformed a piece of land, once scarred by disaster, into a vibrant community poised for a brighter tomorrow. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved when people work together to rebuild not just houses, but lives.” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Republic of China, more widely known as the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, was founded in Taiwan in 1966 by the Buddhist nun and Dharma teacher Master Cheng Yen. With a focus on “putting compassion into action,” the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a UN-accredited NGO with some 10 million supporters and 432 offices worldwide across 51 countries, undertaking regular activities in the fields of humanitarian aid, medical care, education, and environmental sustainability.
As a global icon of socially engaged Buddhism, Master Cheng Yen has expressed a deeply held belief that all people are capable of manifesting the same great compassion as the Buddha. She has noted that true compassion is not simply feeling sympathy for the suffering of others, but is found in reaching out to relieve suffering with concrete action.
Master Cheng Yen is popularly known in Taiwan as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Buddhism, the others being: Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain; Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan; and Master Wei Chueh, founder of Chung Tai Shan. These four global Buddhist orders, correspondingly known as the “Four Great Mountains,” have grown to become among the most influential Chinese Buddhist organizations in the world.
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Tzu Chi Foundation
Tzu Chi USA
A New Dawn in Kura: 171 Families Receive Keys to a Brighter Future (Tzu Chi Foundation)
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