Myanmar
Rising prices following the strong March earthquake in Mandalay made life even harder for survivors. In early August, Tzu Chi returned to Amarapura and provided each of 3,901 households with 24 kilograms (53 pounds) of rice and one liter of cooking oil. In mid-August, 2,559 households in Pa Late received rice, cooking oil, and folding beds.
Malaysia
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tzu Chi’s environmental protection mission in Malaysia. There are 71 recycling stations and 248 recycling points in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor alone. Since 2024, Tzu Chi has also organized plogging events, where participants pick up trash while jogging or walking. One such event took place on June 29. The main activity kicked off at the Kuala Lumpur Jing Si Hall, while concurrent activities were held in about 50 locations across Malaysia, including in Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak. Over 8,000 people participated, collecting 3,646 kilograms (8,040 pounds) of recyclables and 3,937 kg of general waste.
Taiwan
◎In late June, Dr. Chen Peir-rong (陳培榕), vice superintendent of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, received the 2025 Medical Contribution Award from the Taiwan Head and Neck Society. The award honors his three decades of service to remote communities in eastern Taiwan and his establishment of the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Team, which has helped improve survival rates and quality of life for patients.
◎To support the health of foreign migrant workers, the Tzu Chi International Medical Association and Taipei City Government hold free healthcare events at Taipei Main Station three to four times a year. Services include medical treatment, physical checkups, and consultations. One such event on June 29 brought together over a hundred medical professionals who provided care in dentistry, gynecology, dermatology, traditional Chinese medicine, and other specialties, logging 904 patient visits.
◎Typhoon Danas struck southern Taiwan in early July, damaging the roofs of many old homes. Tzu Chi began repair efforts in Chiayi and Tainan in mid-July, aiming to restore over a hundred homes by mid-September. Volunteers across the island also organized charity sales to aid recovery in the affected areas. ★More Information
The Philippines
From August 14 to 16, Tzu Chi Philippines held its 283rd large-scale free clinic in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, where a team of 427 medical professionals and volunteers offered services in internal medicine, ENT, pediatrics, dentistry, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, surgery, and prosthetics. In total, 5,249 patient visits were recorded.
The United States
Flash floods hit Central Texas over the Independence Day weekend, claiming more than 130 lives. After visiting disaster areas, Tzu Chi volunteers organized three cash card distributions in late July and August, supporting 71 households from Burnet, Travis, Williamson, and Kerr counties.
Mexico
Tzu Chi volunteers from the US and Mexico hold monthly free clinics for impoverished families in Tijuana. Noticing a lack of dental care for people with disabilities, they invited specialists from the Taiwan chapter of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association to provide free treatment and education. Between July 9 and 12, 119 patients received care. A seminar on dental care for people with special needs attracted 130 local dentists.
Argentina
In mid-May, flooding struck San Cayetano, Campana, Buenos Aires Province. Volunteers made six on-site visits and learned that the items most needed were cold-weather gear and cleaning supplies. With the local government’s help in preparing a distribution list, they returned on July 7 to deliver blankets, buckets, rags, laundry detergent, and toilet paper to 735 households.
Spain
Tzu Chi provided relief to residents affected by the October 2024 floods in the province of Valencia. From July 9 to 15, about 50 volunteers from ten countries conducted seven distributions in six hard-hit areas, with 3,044 households receiving gift cards. ★More Information
Ethiopia
Cuts in foreign aid this year—including from the US—have made life difficult for families in displacement camps in Debre Birhan. To help, Tzu Chi has provided meals for 1,350 vulnerable children under eight since July and distributed food packages to 3,000 families in July and August.
Tzu Chi’s work in Ethiopia dates back to 1993, starting with the construction of water and medical facilities. In 2022, it partnered with Kidmia Mahiber to provide food for people displaced by conflict in the north. Since 2023, it has also extended relief to those affected by conflict in the west and drought in the south. By May, over 550,000 instances of aid had been provided.
