Myanmar
Myanmar experienced an intense heatwave at the end of April, with temperatures reaching their highest levels in 56 years. Due to damaged infrastructure from internal conflicts, the village of Ka Naung Chaung Wa in Dala Township, Yangon Region, faced a water shortage crisis. To help, Tzu Chi collaborated with the Yangon Fire Department to provide 7,000 gallons of water for daily use and 490 liters of drinking water to 700 households. They also supplied waterproof covers to protect the village’s only usable reservoir from contamination. (5/23)
Malaysia
The Tzu Chi Free Clinic in Kuala Lumpur conducted health checkups for 354 refugee students at two Tzu Chi learning centers in Ampang and Selayang in late April, ensuring they received the same preventive healthcare as Malaysian students. (4/26)
Indonesia
This year, Tzu Chi Indonesia started the Healthy Breakfast program to provide milk and bread to underprivileged students on school days. On May 14, they began working with the military and police in Penjaringan District, North Jakarta, to supply breakfast for students of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Raudlatul Islamiyah. On May 20, the program expanded to include Al Khairiyah Elementary School in the same district.
Japan
The cash aid distributions for earthquake-affected households on the Noto Peninsula began in mid-May. There are four rounds of distributions planned, expected to benefit over 10,000 households by the end of July.
Taiwan
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University awarded an honorary dual doctoral degree in philosophy and medicine to Dharma Master Cheng Yen. This honor recognizes her nearly six decades of leadership in guiding Tzu Chi volunteers to actively engage in charitable disaster relief and medical care worldwide. It also acknowledges her contributions to promoting the purification of the mind and respect for life, which have profoundly impacted social welfare and addressed the spiritual needs of countless individuals. (5/12)
The Philippines
In mid-May, the Tzu Chi Great Love Physical Rehabilitation and Jaipur Foot Prosthesis Manufacturing Center in Zamboanga held its first-ever prosthetic training camp in Pagadian, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur. Nearly a hundred disabled individuals were fitted with custom-made prosthetics and assisted with walking exercises. (5/16-5/17)
New Zealand
The Middlemore Foundation launched the Jammies for June campaign in 2011 to help keep underprivileged children warm through the winter. In response to their request this year, Tzu Chi New Zealand donated 809 pairs of winter pajamas. (5/30)
Canada
Since November 2023, Tzu Chi Eastern Canada has been offering monthly free traditional Chinese medicine services at Gifted People Services (GPS), a non-profit organization that provides training, support, and resources to families affected by developmental disabilities. Tzu Chi volunteers were invited to perform a sign language song at a charity fundraising event held by GPS in April, raising awareness and encouraging support for individuals with autism and other special needs. (4/21)
The United States
Tzu Chi USA was invited to the Multi-Faith Leader Climate Resilience Roundtable held at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. in April. They shared their disaster relief experiences at the event and showcased items developed by Tzu Chi, including privacy cubicles, eco-blankets, and folding beds, tables, and chairs. They also introduced recently patented inventions by Tzu Chi: mosquito nets and rolling storage containers with extendable handles. (4/17)
Guatemala
At the request of the Palencia municipal government, Tzu Chi volunteers conducted a distribution for 148 impoverished families affected by a landslide in the village of Sacabastal. The distributed items included rice, sugar, cooking oil, noodles, and biscuits. (5/1)
Brazil
In response to the worst flood to hit the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in over 80 years, Tzu Chi volunteers in Paraguay, a neighboring country of Brazil, procured 8,500 kilograms (18,740 pounds) of supplies to distribute to the victims, including rice, noodles, and flour. They entrusted the delivery of these supplies to personnel from Brazil’s Paraná State Fire Department, who were on their way to the disaster area. (5/7)
Africa
The Tzu Chi Foundation has partnered with the Islamic Development Bank since last year on an initiative to combat eye diseases in Africa, providing 19 sets of cataract surgery equipment to six countries: Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Somalia, and Djibouti. All the equipment had been delivered by early May and was expected to enable 14,000 surgeries. Additionally, three mobile optometry clinics will be sent to Guinea, Djibouti, and Somalia.
Sierra Leone
A major fire broke out in early May in the Susan’s Bay slum in Freetown, affecting 1,500 people. Tzu Chi, along with the Lanyi Foundation, Caritas, and the Healey International Relief Foundation, initiated hot meal distributions. One hot meal per day was provided for each recipient over two consecutive weeks, totaling 2,000 servings. (5/13-5/27)
Kenya
Heavy rains starting in late April caused severe flooding in areas such as the riverside slums of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. Tzu Chi, in collaboration with a local NGO, distributed food and other daily necessities at the end of May to a thousand households. (5/28-5/30)
South Africa
With winter approaching in South Africa, Tzu Chi volunteers visited ten schools in Gauteng Province, on the Highveld, in mid-May to distribute 3,000 food packages. Their efforts aimed to ensure that impoverished students and their families have enough food for the winter, especially on days when there is no school and thus no school meals available
