Kazakhstan
The 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions convened in Astana from September 17 to 18, hosting representatives from 60 countries and regions. Debra Boudreaux (曾慈慧), Tzu Chi’s chief international affairs officer, participated as a representative of the Buddhist community, following a recommendation from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. She spoke on the role of religion in fostering global harmony in the 21st century.
Myanmar
Tzu Chi volunteers have provided support by distributing rice and cooking oil for more than six months since a major earthquake struck Mandalay on March 28. By October, their relief efforts had also resulted in the construction of 273 temporary classrooms, along with the donation of 11,493 sets of school supplies, 1,766 desk-and-chair sets, and 125 whiteboards.
Sri Lanka
The cost of prescription glasses in Sri Lanka, ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 rupees (about US$25–30), poses a considerable burden for low-income families. On October 9, volunteers visited Bingiriya Divisional Hospital in North Western Province to fulfill a promise made during a free clinic in August, providing free eyeglasses to 231 residents.
Thailand
Tzu Chi Thailand has long provided charitable aid and medical care to refugees and stateless individuals, reaching over 10,000 people. Its work has been recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and in September, the two organizations formally began their partnership by exchanging letters.
According to a UNHCR report released in April this year, 3,526 refugees and 2,774 asylum seekers in urban areas of Thailand still require assistance.
The Philippines
◎A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu on September 30, killing over 70 people and causing massive damage. Despite transportation challenges, Tzu Chi volunteers from Manila and Cebu reached the disaster area on October 5. Their first distribution was held in Libaong, San Remigio—a remote community that had received little attention—where they provided food, bottled water, hygiene supplies, medicines, and eco-blankets to 422 households. A large-scale distribution of financial aid and rice is planned for Bogo City, near the epicenter.
◎Typhoon Bualoi hit the central Philippines on September 25, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that triggered flooding. The Ormoc Great Love Village in Leyte Province was inundated, forcing over a thousand residents to evacuate. Despite being affected themselves, Tzu Chi volunteers began serving hot meals and distributing clothing in the village at four o’clock the next morning. On October 12, three distributions provided 1,200 households with folding beds, eco-blankets, and rice.
Mozambique
After Cyclone Idai devastated Mozambique in 2019, Tzu Chi helped build four permanent housing villages and 23 schools. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2027. On September 3, a joint handover ceremony was held for ten schools in Sofala Province, while a separate ceremony marked the delivery of 840 homes in the Guara-Guara Great Love Village. Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo personally attended both ceremonies, honoring Tzu Chi’s dedication and expressing his gratitude.
Zimbabwe
◎Following the 2022 opening of a Tzu Chi Jing Si Hall in South Africa, the groundbreaking ceremony for Africa’s second Jing Si Hall was held on September 7 in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The new facility will serve as a key Tzu Chi hub, offering vocational training, free medical services, and Tzu Chi group study sessions.
◎Zimbabwe’s Tzu Chi well-drilling team is now government-certified. Seventy-one of the nearly 150 team members earned certification through a course offered by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency. Founded in 2013 to provide safe water, the team had drilled or repaired over 4,000 wells as of October 17.
Palestine
In response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Tzu Chi Türkiye and El Menahil International School launched a fundraising campaign to provide hot meals in Gaza. In cooperation with the Taipei Grand Mosque and facilitated by the mosque foundation’s chairman, Yaser Cheng (鄭泰祥), and his friends in the Gaza Strip, they began serving meals on September 26 for local youth and children in Az-Zawayda, located in central Gaza. By October 6, a total of 8,500 meals had been served.
Following the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 10, Tzu Chi Jordan is partnering with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization and the Royal Medical Services to deliver antibiotics, dialysis medications, and other medical supplies to two field hospitals in Gaza by the end of this year. Additional aid, including eco-blankets and food, will also be provided.
Acting on information provided by Medical Aid for Palestinians, Tzu Chi volunteers in Jordan also held a free dental clinic in Amman on October 16, providing care for 107 refugees, 80 of whom required follow-up treatment.
