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n January 12, 2010, at 4:53 PM—the Mayor Marie René is an alumnus of Collège
moment that no Haitian will ever Marie-Anne. After the quake, she had passed by
Oforget—Christ the King Secretarial her alma mater to look at the pile of rubble and
School student Gracieuse Willande Mars had wonder about its future. She had not expected
just stepped outside the campus gate. She lofty buildings to reemerge. She expressed her
watched her school collapse to the ground right hope that the students will study hard and
before her eyes. prosper so that they can do justice to the
beautiful buildings. She called Tzu Chi a model
When Gracieuse returned to the site three for all nongovernmental organizations that
years later as a Christ the King alumnus, she was want to help Haiti.
struck by the beautiful and sturdy building that
stood where there had been only rubble—the The event’s emcees, providing commentary
one built around a steady steel frame to ensure in both English and French, invited two of the
that it never collapses. “It’s a miracle.” men responsible for the joyous day—Overseas
Engineering and Construction Co. (OECC)
RiSiNG fROM THe Rubble Deputy General Manager David Chang and Tzu
Chi volunteer James Chen, who made thirty-five
A major milestone was celebrated on May trips to Port-au-Prince in the past three years—
17, 2013. It was a historic moment for Buddhist up to the stage for recognition. They were both
Tzu Chi Foundation, for the Congregation of greeted with a rousing standing ovation.
the Sisters of St. Anne, for education in Haiti,
and for Haiti's post-quake reconstruction. At 10 Stephen Huang, Tzu Chi’s Executive
AM, five hundred guests filled the front atrium Director of Global Volunteers, expressed
of Collège Marie-Anne secondary school as gratitude on behalf of Dharma Master Cheng
hundreds of students watched from the second Yen and all Tzu Chi volunteers. He especially
and third floor balconies. Dignitaries were in thanked the peacekeeping forces from Jordan,
abundance, including Port-au-Prince Auxiliary Brazil, United States, China, and elsewhere
Bishop Quesnel Alphonse, Senate President for all their assistance after the earthquake,
Simon Desras, Canadian Ambassador Henri- which had made it possible for Tzu Chi to hold
Paul Normandin, and Port-au-Prince Mayor relief distributions for quake survivors. He also
Marie René, among others. All told, roughly a thanked Dharma Master Cheng Yen for leading
thousand people witnessed this bright moment worldwide fundraising that raised millions of
of history together. dollars to help Haiti and rebuild these schools.

When then-Tzu Chi CEO William Keh led the Huang told attendees that on this visit
first group of Tzu Chi volunteers into Haiti just to Haiti he had been given three tasks by
days after the earthquake, he led them into a Dharma Master Cheng Yen. First, he was asked
Port-au-Prince that had just suffered complete to see if OECC had done a good job building
devastation. Attending this joyous celebration the schools. (He asked, “Were the schools built
just three years later, he was deeply moved: well?” Everyone applauded as they yelled,
“These buildings are an accumulation of the “Yes!”) Second, he was to ask Sister Rita Larivée,
love of Tzu Chi volunteers from all around the General Superior of the Sisters of St. Anne,
world, like pagodas rising from the rubble.” whether she would accept the three schools.
(Sister Rita answered, “We accept the schools!”)
Senate President Desras opened the Third, he was to find out whether Haiti still
ceremony by asking for God’s blessings, and the needed Tzu Chi even after the schools were
Buddha’s as well. He expressed his hope that Tzu rebuilt. (All the attendees shouted, “Yes!”)
Chi will remain in Haiti, for Haiti still has a long
journey ahead. When a student representative of Christ
the King Secretarial School rose to speak,

1 8 Tzu CHi uSA FALL 2013 Photo: Luca Ye