Page 47 - Tzu Chi Q&A_First Edition

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How many countries have benefited from the Apart from providing aid and care to those in
rice distributions held by Tzu Chi? need, what else does Tzu Chi do to lift people
out of poverty and help them stand on their own
Since 2003, Tzu Chi has been distributing the rice two feet?
provided by Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture to peo-
ple in need around the world. As of 2016, 17 countries Besides providing supplies, financial aid, and emo-
had received the rice through Tzu Chi, namely South tional support to those in need, Tzu Chi volunteers
Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, also do what they can to help them learn a skill and
Botswana, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, the Philippines, earn a living.
Myanmar, Cambodia, Iran, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Hon- For example, in South Africa, Tzu Chi volunteers not
duras, Haiti, and Sint Maarten. only set up sewing classes and other vocational train-
ing centers for the local Zulu people, but also went
to homes for the physically challenged or orphaned
children to teach them how to garden and farm.

A lady in Zimbabwe beams Tzu Chi volunteers from Cambodia and
with a big smile after Singapore hold a rice distribution for the
receiving from Tzu Chi poor in Phnom Penh. (Tzu Chi Cambodia)
the rice provided by Tai-
wan’s government. Tzu Chi volunteers in South Africa organize vocational training classes
(Zhu Jin-cai)
to teach the local women how to sew and make handicrafts.
(Liao Mei-ling)
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