By Cai Bai-qiu, Lin Jing-jun, and Zhu Xiu-lian
Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting
Photos by Huang Rui-fen
Their homes had been transformed from straw huts to sturdy, thoughtfully designed houses. Stepping through the doors of their new homes now feels like a dream come true!
Each house in the Silaunja Great Love Village features two bedrooms, a living room, and a bathroom, along with space for a garden. Residents began planting and beautifying their yards even before the official handover ceremony.
In the village of Silaunja, Bodh Gaya, India, 36 new cement houses now stand where simple straw huts once stood. Families couldn’t even wait for the official handover ceremony of the Silaunja Great Love Village on October 27, 2024, before they got busy decorating their new homes. Outside House No. 20, Jayanti Kumari was adorning her bamboo-fenced yard with potted plants. As neighbors admired her small but charming garden, a truck arrived carrying wardrobes. These housewarming gifts from Tzu Chi sparked curiosity and excitement, with neighbors gathering around and some even reaching out to touch the furniture—items they had never owned before.
To enhance the village landscape, horticulturist Ramashish Mali was invited to teach residents how to plant golden dewdrop saplings provided by Tzu Chi. The plant was selected for its drought resistance, ease of cultivation, and sharp thorns, which protect it from being eaten by goats, commonly kept by the villagers. Rather than working individually, the residents came together, helping each other as they moved from house to house. They shared tips on pruning, fertilizing, and caring for the plants as they worked, adding vitality to their community and fostering hope for a brighter future.
Before construction began in February 2024, the area was dotted with dim, low-roofed straw huts. Reflecting on those times, Jayanti said, “When it rained lightly, our house would leak. When it rained heavily, it would flood. Either way, everything inside would get wet.” Her tone brightened as she added, “Now, with these sturdy, beautiful houses, we must take good care of them and keep them clean!” Resident Rupminiya Devi also expressed appreciation for her new home, especially for the indoor toilet, which freed her from having to go to the riverbank or secluded outdoor spots to relieve herself.
Although residents now cherish their homes, some were initially skeptical about the project, doubting that such a “gift from heaven” could be real. Savitri Devi, from House No. 5, didn’t agree to clear the foundation of her old home until July. By October, however, she was warmly inviting volunteers to visit her new house, joyfully saying, “I am so happy to welcome the New Year in my new home.”
From huts to homes
In March 2023, Tzu Chi volunteers from Malaysia and Singapore established a base in Bodh Gaya—the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment—to support underprivileged local communities through charitable, medical, and educational initiatives. They observed that most rural residents lived in straw or mud houses with bamboo or tree-branch roofs. During the rainy season, plastic sheets were added to minimize leaks. These huts had low eaves, about 100 centimeters (3.3 feet) high, forcing residents to stoop when entering or exiting. Inside, the homes were dim and simple, often lacking windows. A single wooden plank bed typically accommodated four or five family members. Clothes hung from ropes along the walls, while small goats occasionally wandered through the living spaces. Kitchens were equipped with earthen stoves, and families sat directly on the floor to eat their meals.
Nearly every household had a manual water pump for cleaning cookware, preparing food, and bathing—but no bathroom. The absence of sanitary facilities forced residents to relieve themselves in secluded areas, which compromised hygiene and increased the risk of disease.
Located along the Niranjana River, Silaunja became the first community where Tzu Chi built a housing village for impoverished local residents. After obtaining the necessary permits, the construction team rebuilt homes for 36 families who held valid land ownership certificates. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 25, 2024.
Contractor Azim Khan and his team arrived at the site on March 10 to begin preparations for the project. On March 23, residents signed legal agreements in the presence of a lawyer, consenting to the design, layout, and facilities of their new homes. Building materials arrived in April, and several villagers were hired to help construct their own houses.
Azim would invite Tzu Chi volunteers to join him on-site and introduce Tzu Chi’s missions when he distributed wages to his workers. He hoped to inspire them to give to the needy, which made him happier than earning profits himself. Beh Chun How (馬俊豪), Tzu Chi’s construction project engineer from Malaysia, visited the site daily to monitor the construction and ensure the quality of the project. Smiling, he noted that Azim likely made little profit from the Tzu Chi project and expressed deep gratitude for his wholehearted support.
Over eight months, the construction team endured scorching heat hitting 40°C (104°F) and downpours during the rainy season. They ultimately completed the 36 homes. Each house, measuring 40 square meters (430 square feet), includes a living room and two bedrooms. With ceilings three meters (9.8 feet) high, the homes provide much-needed space, eliminating the cramped conditions of the old dwellings. Windows throughout ensure light and ventilation, while raised foundations protect against flooding during the rainy season. Respecting local customs, which regard toilets as unclean, the bathrooms were designed with doors that open to the outside.
The interiors balance practicality and appeal. Floors are covered with 60-by-60-centimeter quartz tiles, making them easy to clean and maintain. Kitchen walls feature decorative tiles with an English teapot design, adding a charming touch. A water pump near the front door ensures convenient access to water, while padlocks on doors reflect local preferences and are easy to replace. Each home has an independent drainage system and pre-installed wiring conduits, enabling residents to easily connect to the utility pole outside to obtain electricity. The community also includes a septic system and wastewater treatment facilities. Space around each house was left for residents to beautify with greenery.
Before moving into the Great Love Houses, most residents lived in simple straw or mud huts with roofs made of bamboo or tree branches. These homes offered little protection, with leaks a frequent problem during the rainy season. During the day, natural light served as their primary source for illumination. Cooking was done on earthen stoves in their kitchens, often requiring them to squat while preparing meals. Yong Mun Fei
Housewarming gifts
Tzu Chi Singapore Deputy CEO Khoo Kean Yee (邱建義) and other volunteers prepared housewarming gifts for the residents before the handover ceremony. The gifts included blankets, beds, dining tables and chairs, wardrobes, cookware, tableware, stoves, toiletries, cleaning tools, mats, and saplings. Additional items included blessing cards from Dharma Master Cheng Yen, wooden carvings of the Chinese character for “love,” and framed Jing Si aphorisms reading, “Speak kind words, think good thoughts, do good deeds, and walk the right path.”
Khoo, who had been involved in the construction project from the start, felt a deep sense of fulfillment to see how the new homes were improving the residents’ quality of life. Reflecting on the process, he said, “Aside from the complexities of construction, the most challenging aspect was communicating with the residents. They have their own needs and cultural traditions, and we did our best to accommodate their wishes while balancing them with our considerations. The housing we provided focused on practicality—neither extravagant nor overly simple.”
As volunteers prepared the housewarming gifts, they brought a table to the home of Sajina Kumari to ensure it suited the villagers’ needs. “If I had this table, I’d place it in the living room and use it as a dining table,” Sajina said. When asked about chairs, she added, “I prefer chairs with backrests—they’re more comfortable.”
Sajina lives with her mother-in-law, Pyari Devi, and seven other family members. Each morning, Pyari herds their goats to graze and then returns to dry cow dung. “The cow dung needs about a week to dry,” Pyari said with a smile as she spoke with the visiting volunteers. With winter approaching, dried branches, palm leaves, and cow dung—free alternatives to fuel—were essential for cooking and heating for villagers who could not afford gas.
Pyari recalled moving to Silaunja 12 years earlier, clearing weeds and shrubs to build a house from wood and mud. That home required annual repairs with fresh mud and was a stark contrast to their new one. “I’m so happy to have this house with tiles and flooring—it’s something I never imagined in my life,” she said. “I clean and mop every day, and I avoid cooking indoors to keep the house clean and tidy.” She contentedly added that the house had windows that let in fresh air. Like her daughter-in-law, she appreciated the refreshing breeze that flowed through the house.
A resident cleans her new home, the first modern house she has ever lived in. Yong Mun Fei
Volunteers from India, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam present house keys and housewarming gifts to residents of the Silaunja Great Love Village during the handover ceremony on October 27.
Building his own home
Jamuna Manjhi, a 49-year-old foreman of the Great Love Village construction crew, is more than a worker—he’s also a proud homeowner in the new community. After their old house was demolished to make way for their new one, his family of seven lived in a cramped temporary hut with a door only 120 centimeters (3.9 feet) high, requiring them to stoop just to enter. Those challenging days are now a memory of the past.
Jamuna works hard to support his family. Before his job as a foreman, he took whatever work he could find, from construction work to market labor. “As long as there is work, I take it. I never stay idle,” he said. While helping build homes for others in other places, he often dreamed of having a decent home for his own family. But that dream had always felt out of reach, something he thought he might never achieve in his lifetime.
That changed when Tzu Chi brought hope to the village. “With Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s blessings, we got a house,” Jamuna shared. “It feels as though a divine presence came to our village, bringing us an unexpected blessing that ended our suffering.” Now, with a sturdy and beautifully painted home, Jamuna promised to keep it as clean as he keeps himself.
Rajmani Devi, Jamuna’s wife, reflected on the changes that had unfolded in Silaunja. She admitted that she had doubts that the housing project would come to fruition, even after the groundbreaking ceremony. “But now that the houses are finished, this is something I never could have imagined!” she exclaimed.
She vividly recalled the rainy day when Tzu Chi volunteers visited their old home. Her kitchen roof was leaking, and water pooled on the floor. As she cooked pancakes, the dim light bulb went out, leaving the room in near darkness except for the flickering light of the gas stove. She was used to it, so she didn’t stop. She just kept pouring the batter and spreading it into a large pancake.
Rajmani is now filled with joy, no longer having to worry about leaks and being able to cook and sleep peacefully. “With this beautiful new home,” she said, “I’m excited about this new chapter in my life!”
With their new house, their dream of escaping poverty and living a stable life is moving in the right direction. Jamuna shared his hopes for the future: “I dream of my children learning English and computers, building bright futures. My son works away from home to earn money, but my daughter is still studying. If she can complete her education, it would be wonderful.”
Jamuna’s role as foreman ended with the completion of the Great Love Village on October 1. However, as Bodh Gaya entered its peak tourist and pilgrimage season, he found work selling clothes at the market, working 12-hour days for a month to earn 14,000 rupees (US$165). He shared his hope that Tzu Chi would continue building homes for the poor in India and said he would gladly work as a laborer to support such efforts. “This is not just for me, but for the happiness of others too,” he said.
Every household in the Great Love Village hung up decorative lights to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. Yong Mun Fei
Unveiling a new chapter in life
The Silaunja Great Love Village is a continuation of Tzu Chi’s long-standing commitment to providing housing for those in need. Over 20 years ago, the foundation undertook its first housing project in India. After a devastating magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck Gujarat in January 2001, leaving nearly 400,000 people homeless, Tzu Chi partnered with CARE France to build 227 homes in Kotda, Anjar Taluka. These homes were completed and handed over to affected families in May 2002.
Inspired by Master Cheng Yen’s aspiration to give back to Bodh Gaya, a significant location in the Buddha’s life, volunteers from Singapore and Malaysia began serving the area in early 2023. Supported by fundraising efforts from volunteers around the world, they have honored the Buddha’s teachings by working to create meaningful change in the local community.
On October 27, 2024, the completed houses in the Silaunja Great Love Village were officially handed over to its residents, marking a milestone in the volunteers’ work in Bodh Gaya. Flowers now bloom in front of the homes, symbolizing the start of a vibrant new chapter. Filled with hope for the future, residents expressed their gratitude. Jamuna Manjhi described the transformation, saying, “Whenever the wind blows, cool air flows into the house, bringing comfort. Every time I step into my home, it feels like a dream come true—a dream realized thanks to Master Cheng Yen.”
Residents make the “Happy Face” gesture taught by Tzu Chi volunteers, greeting their future with smiles after receiving their new homes.
