By Wu Xiu-ling
Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting
Photo by Lin Gen-ben
With the help of Tzu Chi volunteers, a dilapidated home was transformed into a haven of comfort for a family facing hardship and illness.
When Tzu Chi volunteers first visited the Zhangs’ home in April 2024, they could hardly believe that such living conditions existed in the prosperous urban area of Tainan City, southern Taiwan. The two-story brick and metal house, situated near railroad tracks, was in a severe state of disrepair. Window frames were empty, sections of the ceilings had collapsed, and water had seeped through the bases of walls. The uneven floor was crowded with miscellaneous items, leaving almost no clear space. A towering tree had grown unchecked in the front yard, stretching its branches wildly in every direction. A gaping hole in the kitchen ceiling was open to the tree’s branches and dangling dead leaves, adding to the heartache of the scene.
The only leak-free part of the home was a small living room where the three siblings slept. The youngest sister used a cot, the brother slept on the floor under a table, and their eldest sister, ill and bedridden, lay on a medical bed. Although she needed constant care, the siblings’ strong family bond prevented them from placing her in a nursing facility. The brother had quit his job to care for her, leaving the younger sister as the family’s sole provider. Despite receiving social welfare assistance, they struggled to make ends meet.
A mission to help
Upon visiting the Zhangs, the volunteers immediately recognized the need to improve their living conditions, particularly for the eldest sister’s well-being. After consulting with Tzu Chi social workers and the neighborhood head, they decided to undertake a home repair project.
A significant obstacle quickly emerged: although the brother leased the house and land from the city government, he lacked land use rights. This legal complication threatened to derail the project. Undeterred, the volunteers gathered tax records and utility bills to help the brother file a petition with the city government. Their persistence paid off, and approval for the repairs was eventually obtained.
Social worker Ye Ya-ling (葉雅玲) explained that navigating the legal complexities was challenging, but the volunteers remained focused on improving the Zhang family’s quality of life and didn’t mind the hard work. Fellow social worker Zhou Zhu-lan (周珠蘭) added that volunteers Wang Cong-ming (王聰明) and Huang Wei-ran (黃威然) made countless trips to government offices for this case. “Thanks to their dedication, this home has become one filled with warmth,” she said.
On August 31, before the repairs began, more than 60 volunteers gathered at the Zhang home to clear out years of accumulated clutter and broken furniture. They formed a human chain to efficiently remove the debris, working tirelessly as clouds of dust filled the air.
The steep, almost vertical iron staircase leading to the second floor posed a logistical problem. Volunteers devised an ingenious solution: they hung canvas sheets from the balcony to create a conveyor system for lowering old items, cabinets, and wooden boards to the ground. They sorted the waste as it was removed, and soon a towering mound of trash formed outside. Thanks to prior coordination with the Tainan Environmental Protection Bureau, garbage and recycling trucks arrived to haul it away.
One team of volunteers scrubbed and washed the kitchen and bathroom, removing layers of grime to reveal the original surfaces, while another group stayed with the brother and his bedridden sister, now seated in a wheelchair, as they waited in an open space near the house for the cleanup to be completed.
“I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of help,” the brother said, his eyes red with emotion. “Tzu Chi volunteers are incredibly warm-hearted.” Having never sought outside assistance before, he was deeply touched by the volunteers’ kindness, which far exceeded his expectations.
The youngest sister had begun tidying up a month earlier but had made little progress. “I work 12 hours a day,” she said with a shy, apologetic smile. “I wanted to clean, but I simply didn’t have the energy. Over time, the house ended up like this.”
Neighborhood head Hou Yun-jing (侯雲靚) was also moved by the sight of so many volunteers. Choking up, she said, “We had wanted to help the Zhang family for years—we even considered helping them move—but numerous obstacles stood in the way. Tzu Chi volunteers arrived and immediately got to work finding solutions. They are so compassionate. We’re truly grateful to Master Cheng Yen.”
Housewarming
With Tzu Chi’s financial support, repairs began at the end of September. New windows were installed, and dilapidated kitchen and bathroom ceilings were replaced with durable galvanized steel panels. The bathroom and toilet doors were upgraded, while the kitchen’s exterior walls were cleaned and smoothed. The bedrooms and living room were given a fresh coat of paint, and broken pavement near the house was dug up and leveled. An electric water heater and a range hood were installed, and even the overgrown tree, which had bothered the neighbors, was trimmed.
The renovations were complete by the end of November. More than 20 Tzu Chi volunteers, two social workers, and four neighbors gathered in the family’s yard for a housewarming celebration. Volunteer Wang Cong-ming expressed his gratitude: “We are so grateful for this opportunity to serve over the past seven months, from our initial visit to the family to the cleanup and repair. Seeing the home now, clean and bright, we know the family is happy, and so are we. We also want to thank the neighborhood officials for their support.” The volunteers brought thoughtful gifts, including cooking utensils, bowls and chopsticks, calendars, rice, apples, and oranges, enhancing the festive atmosphere.
“I am truly grateful,” the brother said, beaming. “Without the volunteers’ help, we wouldn’t have this home today.” His sister, just as delighted, added, “I didn’t know how to organize the messy house before. Now that it’s leak-free, neat, and bright, I’ll make sure to keep it clean.”
Huang Wei-ran accompanied the brother to visit neighbors, offering apologies for the noise during the repairs and sharing sweet rice dumplings and the joy of the housewarming. With the project complete, Huang felt a sense of relief and accomplishment. He recalled his anxiety during the typhoons that struck while repairs were underway: “I was concerned about leaks, but the siblings remained optimistic, saying that as long as one room didn’t leak, it would be enough.” He added that despite their difficult circumstances, the siblings’ unwavering bond was truly inspiring.
The family, once crammed into the living room, now enjoys their own rooms in a comfortable, tidy home. They’ve come to regard the volunteers who regularly visit them as family. The volunteers, in turn, will continue to support the family, ensuring they always feel their warmth and care.
