The Taiwan-headquartered global charity and humanitarian organization Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation recently shared that Tzu Chi volunteers from South Africa and local volunteers from Malawi conducted a care mission to Chigoujiu village in Malawi from 27 April–2 May.
Among Tzu Chi’s initiatives in the village, nestled in a mountainous region of the landlocked country in southern central Africa, are a nursery school, self-funded and constructed by Tzu Chi Malawi volunteers after Cyclone Ana devastated the region in early 2022, and a new well, built in cooperation with local residents. The area was also affected by Cyclone Freddy in February–March 2023.
“When Tzu Chi volunteers from South Africa and Malawi entered [the] village . . . they were warmly welcomed by a large group of joyful villagers on the rolling red soil,” Tzu Chi said in a report seen by BDG. “Behind them were the feeding nursery and medical station that they had helped to rebuild.”
The village chief Javadu said that this project had not only enhanced the overall quality of life for the community, but had also had a profound impact on the lives of the children, who receive an education at the school as well as a nutritious porridge, prepared daily.
“Dedicated volunteer teachers in the nursery are giving valuable lessons to the children . . . [and] have taken the initiative to design their own teaching materials, tailored to the needs of the children,” Tzu Chi noted.
Initially designed for 100 students, the school has already exceeded its capacity due to a growing enthusiasm for learning among the local children. The children benefit from free education and are awarded certificates on graduation, which facilitate their enrollment in local primary schools and offer a path to further educational opportunities.
“Inside the feeding nursery in Chigoujiu, colorful numbers, English letters, and the Chichewa alphabet grace the pink walls,” Tzu Chi explained. “The nursery follows a weekly schedule of diverse subjects, including knowledge, sports, and cultural courses; they provide a well-rounded education for the children for five half-days each week. Generously, Tzu Chi volunteer Michael from Malawi donated a television, enabling the children to enjoy cartoons. Moreover, during holidays, the television is made available for the villagers to use for a fee. The funds generated from this service contribute to the sustainable operation of the nursery.”
According to village chief Javadu, after Chigoujiu was hit by Cyclone Ana in 2022, Tzu Chi volunteers in Malawi offered post-disaster aid, raised funds, and built a well. Their efforts have resulted in improved environmental and living conditions for local residents.
Tzu Chi volunteers also built two dry-pit latrines for the village and a kitchen. Efforts are currently underway to raise funds for the medical station.
“Our goal is not only to educate children and fill their minds with knowledge, but also to cultivate love in their hearts,” Tzu Chi volunteer Heng-Min Zhu from South Africa was quoted as saying.
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.
Education emphasizes the growth of wisdom and opens the door to compassion; learning emphasizes giving and serving others.
— Dharma Master Cheng Yen
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