Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation

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The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Traditional Chinese: 財團 法人 中華民國 佛教 慈濟慈 善 事業 基金會; Simplified Chinese : 财团 法人 中华民国 佛教 慈济慈 善 事业 基金会; pinyin: Fójiào cí jì císhàn shìyè jījīn huì ; Pe̍h- ōe-jī: Chû-chè ki-kim-hōe ) or Tzu Chi Foundation , literally translated as "Merciful Aid", is an international non-profit humanitarian aid organization and non-governmental organization (NGO) with over 10 million volunteers and donors from more than 50 nations worldwide. The foundation focuses on its four missions of charity, medicine, education and humanistic teaching as well as international disaster relief, bone marrow donation, community voluntary work and environmental protection. She has a special advisory status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Tzu Chi has several sub-organizations, such as the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) and the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association (Tzu Ching) (慈濟 大專 青年 聯誼會 (慈青)). Tzu Chi volunteers can usually be recognized worldwide by their blue and white uniforms (Chinese: 藍天 白雲, lántiān báiyún , (literally: "blue sky, white clouds")).

Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
legal form Foundation, endowment
founding May 14, 1966
Seat Hualien, Taiwan
management Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Website http://tw.tzuchi.org/en/

history

The Tzu Chi Foundation was founded in 1966 by the Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan. The organization started with 30 housewives who donated two cents of their household money every day to help people in need.

During the first two years the number of members grew to 293 and by 1986 to about 8000. From the late 80s and 90s, Tzu Chi saw a strong increase with the growing popularity of Buddhism. From 1987 to 1991 the number doubled annually. In 1994 there were already 4 million members.

To date, Tzu Chi has become an important part of civil society with over 10 million volunteers in over 50 countries and 502 offices worldwide.

Temple of the Tzu Chi Foundation in Hualien - "Tzu Chi Hall"

Tzu Chi missions

Charity

As a charity organization , Tzu Chi does not only value the effectiveness of its aid services, but also focuses on bringing out the good of every person. By helping poorer people, richer people feel the happiness of giving and thereby find fulfillment. Likewise, the poor should be motivated to surrender to love and in turn to help other people who are less fortunate than they are. As a consequence, more people would find themselves willing to help others while they enrich themselves through affection.

Medical care

Tzu Chi operates six hospitals in Taiwan. These do not work for profit and are partly financed by donations. Within the hospitals, everyone is guaranteed medical care - free of charge if necessary.

TIMA (Tzu Chi Medical Association)

TIMA is a sub-organization of Tzu Chi. With voluntary medical specialists from 23 countries, TIMA provides needs-based medical services on site regardless of race and religion. Meanwhile, TIMA has 12 mission teams in Taiwan and local chapters in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. In addition to free medical services for people in need, TIMA members work with Tzu Chi volunteers in disaster areas to provide medical assistance. By 2015, TIMA, with more than 16,000 healthcare professionals, had completed over 2.5 million non-profit treatments for people in 49 countries.

International disaster relief

Tzu Chi has been providing international disaster relief since 1991 . This includes the provision of food, clothing, seeds, medical material and the reconstruction of houses, especially schools, the installation of drinking water systems and the provision of medical care. Since it first worked for flood victims in Bangladesh in 1991, Tzu Chi has developed into a broad-based international aid organization.

In recognition of its global aid programs, the foundation received special advisory status in 2003 with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Shih Cheng Yen: The Essence of Infinite Meanings. Teachings on the Adapted Verses of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings . Tzu Chi USA Editorial Team. Jing Si Publications Co., Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan 2015, ISBN 978-9-86666-180-8
  2. ^ A b O'Neill, Mark (2010), Tzu Chi: Serving With Compassion, John Wiley & Sons
  3. ^ Tzu Chi Foundation: About Tzu Chi . ( tzuchi.org [accessed January 10, 2017]).
  4. ↑ David Schak, Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao: Taiwan's Socially Engaged Buddhist Groups . In: China Perspectives . No. 59, 2005. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  5. ↑ Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi . The Discovery Channel. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  6. ↑ Tzu Chi Missions . Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  7. ^ Tzu Chi Foundation: About Tzu Chi . ( tzuchi.org [accessed January 10, 2017]).
  8. ↑ a b c Tzu Chi Foundation: Tzu Chi Missions . ( tzuchi.org [accessed February 4, 2017]).
  9. ↑ About TIMA. Retrieved February 4, 2017 .