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she thanked Dharma Master Cheng Yen and And you gave love.
Tzu Chi for rebuilding her school. She said,
“Words cannot express our gratitude, so we will “The project, under the guidance of Mr.
dedicate a song to Tzu Chi volunteers instead. Chen, was not easy. There were many challenges
Tzu Chi volunteers go all over the world to help to solve. But you always found a way to solve Hope Rises from the Rubble
others, and they are always full of joy. So, we the problem. And you did this with great
hope that God will protect Tzu Chi volunteers kindness and great patience. This, too, was a
and let them complete their mission.” wonderful gift. You taught us that hope and
compassion can overcome many obstacles. You
Student representatives of Collège taught us that strong values and respect for the
Marie-Anne made a special presentation of human person is the first priority, that this is the
a commemorative plaque to Tzu Chi. It was foundation for all projects.
joyfully received by Stephen Huang, James
Chen, Tzu Chi CEO Han Huang, former CEOs “You cannot see the foundations of these
William Keh and Austin Tsao, and Tzu Chi new buildings, but they are not made of cement
Education Foundation CEO Paulina Luan. and steel. The real foundation is much deeper
than the cement and steel. The real foundation
A DeePeR fOuNDATiON is the courage you have given us that nothing is
impossible. The real foundation is the strength
Sister Rita Larivée traveled from Canada you showed us that when people work together,
to attend the grand opening and was the last dreams can come true. The real foundation for
to speak during the ceremony. On behalf of all these schools is that compassion does work
the Sisters of St. Anne around the world she miracles.
thanked Tzu Chi for the wonderful gift, then
continued with a moving message: “You have been our teachers and we are
grateful. And these buildings will remind all
“Without you, the Tzu Chi Foundation, we the students, for many, many generations, that
would never have been able to rebuild what they, too, must do the same. They must show
we lost during the earthquake of January 2010. compassion and caring to the world. And they
Your commitment to those in need in the world must believe that nothing is impossible and
will make a major difference in the lives of many that they can create a better world.”
Haitian children and young adults. Your gift,
however, is much more than these buildings; Many in the audience were visibly moved
it is a gift of hope in a country where hope by Sister Rita’s speech, especially the words:
was sometimes difficult to find following the “You gave hope. You gave commitment. You
earthquake. . . . gave friendship. And you gave love.”

“We come from different religious With Sister’s Rita’s words the ceremony was
traditions, this is true. We are Catholic and you complete, and all attendees reconvened at the
are Buddhist. Yet we feel that we are among school’s main gate to dedicate the five-story
friends and family members when we are with building whose wall plainly reads, “Donated
you. Truly, our spirits are united as we respond by Tzu Chi Foundation.” For all generations to
to the suffering of others in the world. . . . follow, these words and these buildings will bear
witness to Great Love: the love that transcends
“Following the earthquake, many people religion, race, and nationality.
came to Haiti to help. And many people made #97
many promises and said they would come
back. But as the months passed, many people
did not return and many promises were broken. Unite for good causes, work together
But you came back and you did what you said harmoniously, love and support each
you would do. You kept your promise. This was other, and cooperate to move forward.
worth more than the buildings. You gave hope. Jing Si Aphorism by Dharma Master Cheng Yen
You gave commitment. You gave friendship.

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