慈濟慈善基金會

In Austin, Texas, homelessness is on the rise, with numbers projected to triple by October 2024. Recognizing the urgent need, Tzu Ching volunteers partnered with The Other Ones Foundation to bring warmth and nourishment to those in need. 💖 💡 With limited kitchen space, 25 volunteers got creative—cooking outdoors and preparing 80 vegetarian meals from scratch, including curry, spring rolls, fried rice, and mac and cheese. 🍛 To fund the meal, they also organized a pour-over coffee fundraiser, inspiring more people to contribute. For many, this was their first experience preparing meals for those facing hardship, but through teamwork and dedication, they turned simple ingredients into something much more—a meal made with care, a moment of dignity, and a connection built through kindness. 💙 👨 For Johnny Tran, a Tzu Ching youth volunteer from Vietnam, this experience brought back memories of cooking meals for those in need in his hometown. "Doing this made me feel at home again," he shared, emphasizing the joy of spreading compassion. 💞 👩 Ashita Mutyala also expressed her gratitude, saying, "This is another way for me to give back to society, which is really important to me." ✨ #TzuChi #TzuChing #Texas

At 65, Kuo-Jung Hsieh could be enjoying retirement, but he chooses volunteering—dedicating himself to delivering refurbished assistive equipment to families in need. 👨👨🦽 Growing up with ten siblings in poverty, Hsieh worked tirelessly to improve his family’s circumstances, eventually building a successful career in sales and construction.🏗️ Yet, despite his achievements, he never forgot his roots. In 1999, after witnessing Tzu Chi’s disaster relief efforts, he committed himself to volunteer work, from hospital support to carpentry training for Indigenous youth. ✨ Through home visits, medical outreaches, and equipment deliveries, he witnessed life’s impermanence and the struggles of others. Inspired to give back, he traded luxury for purpose—exchanging his high-end car for a small truck that now carries hospital beds and wheelchairs across Taiwan. 🚚 “To bring smiles to care recipients, I must work even harder!” he says. By repurposing medical equipment, Hsieh not only eases financial burdens but also reduces waste and protects the environment. ♻️ “Tzu Chi is a platform for doing good,” he says. “The more I give, the more invested I become.” 💖 “Giving without expecting anything in return is life’s greatest accomplishment.” ―Jing Si Aphorisms #TzuChi #Volunteerism #CommunityCare #InspiringStory

(2/2) In Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, while many have found wealth from its goldfields, the Indigenous community still struggle to access basic healthcare. With no permanent public dentist, residents in severe pain must travel 600 kilometers to Perth for treatment. 🦷 Seeing this urgent need, Dr. Conway Niu, a TIMA volunteer and pediatrician, teamed up with Dr. Christine Jeffries-Stokes and Indigenous elder Reverend Geoffrey Stokes to set up a free dental clinic—bringing care directly to those who need it most. 🧑⚕️👩⚕️ But setting up a clinic from scratch in a church with no dental equipment was no small feat. TIMA Perth volunteers transported everything—from dental chairs and sterilizers to forceps and anesthesia—meticulously packing, labeling, and driving supplies across vast distances. With determination and teamwork, they transformed the space into a fully functional clinic. 🏥✨ For Tammy, this clinic was life-changing. After avoiding the dentist for 20 years due to past trauma, she finally found relief. 💬 “I can’t believe it—it didn’t hurt at all! Thank you so much. I will tell everyone I know about Tzu Chi!” Krystal had been suffering from severe tooth pain but couldn’t afford the 2,000 AUD private clinic fee. At TIMA’s free clinic, she received the care she desperately needed. Now, she wants to give back. 💬 “If Tzu Chi organizes another free clinic, I would be more than happy to help. I want to support Tzu Chi in building connections with the local community.” 💙 Healthcare should not be a privilege—it should be accessible to all. Through TIMA Australia we witness the volunteers’ commitment to reach the most underserved communities, regardless of distance. 🔹 If you missed Part 1, check out our post on the recent TIMA Global Forum in Brisbane, Australia! #TIMA #TIMA_Australia #Kalgoorlie #MedicalOutreach #TransformingHealthcare #TzuChi

(1/2) From February 28 to March 2, 2025, medical professionals and volunteers from around the world gathered in Brisbane, Australia, for the TIMA Global Forum. 🧑⚕️👩⚕️ With the theme “Overcoming Barriers to Care and Delivering Transformative Outcomes,” the event focused on compassionate, patient-centered healthcare and solutions to improve medical access for underserved communities. This forum is a reflection of TIMA Australia’s journey, which began in Brisbane in 2002 with a small group of dedicated volunteers determined to bridge healthcare gaps. 🩺 Recognizing that public dental services were limited—especially for asylum seekers, remote town residents, and people experiencing homelessness—TIMA Australia launched its first refugee dental fair in 2004 in partnership with Queensland Health and refugee organizations. Since then, TIMA’s mission of care has expanded across the country. 🌏 📍 Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney—TIMA volunteers are making a difference across Australia! With 199 medical fairs, nearly 14,000 patient visits, and a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and volunteers, TIMA Australia continues to serve with Great Love. At TIMA, healthcare is more than just treatment—it’s about fostering connection, dignity, and well-being for patients and their family. 💙 🔹Stay tuned for Part 2 of our TIMA Australia series, where we take a closer look at TIMA’s free clinic in Kalgoorlie and its impact on the local community. #TIMA #TIMA_Australia #GlobalForum #MedicalOutreach #TransformingHealthcare #TzuChi #GreatLove

"Education is the key that unlocks a brighter future—not just for children, but for entire families and communities. When given the opportunity to learn, those once trapped by poverty can break free and create a better life." 🎓 In northern Thailand, generations of stateless children once lived with no access to education, their futures bound by poverty and uncertainty. 🪖 Their ancestors were Chinese Nationalist soldiers who, after the Chinese Civil War, retreated to Myanmar and later settled in Thailand’s remote mountains. Having no citizenship, these families faced extreme hardship, unable to access basic rights, including schooling for their children. 🏫 Recognizing this urgent need, Tzu Chi launched relief efforts in 1995, providing aid and building schools for these communities. 📚 This mission took a major step forward in 2005 with the establishment of Chiang Mai Tzu Chi School, offering a trilingual curriculum in Chinese, English, and Thai, integrated with humanistic education to nurture knowledge, integrity, and compassion. 💕 Chiang Mai Tzu Chi School does more than impart knowledge. ✨ Students are encouraged to give back, visiting elderly veterans, helping disaster survivors, and supporting those in need. 💖 The school’s guiding principle, "Respect Life and Affirm Humanity," ensures that education is not just about academic success, but about building a kinder, more compassionate society. 👩🎓 Inspiring Alumni Stories 👨🎓 🔹 Surat Suphatha, from the third graduating class, pursued his childhood dream and is now an automotive designer, creating stunning car exteriors. 🚗 He credits his success to the school’s nurturing environment and the values of humility and perseverance instilled in him. 🔹 Irada Siriphatkul, from the second graduating class, is now an attorney, standing out in her field with the confidence, discipline, and strong character shaped by her years at the Tzu Chi School. ⚖️ She recalls how teachers encouraged every student’s aspirations, helping her find her path to success. For these students and many others, education was the turning point that lifted them out of hardship and opened doors to a brighter future. 🌈 As Chiang Mai Tzu Chi School marks its 20th anniversary, we witness how education can transform lives, break the cycle of poverty, and bring hope where there once was none. 🧑🏫 With unwavering dedication, we will continue to ensure that every child has the chance to learn, grow, and create a future filled with possibilities. 💓 #EducationForAll #TzuChiThailand #ChiangMaiTzuChiSchool

Happy International Women’s Day! 🌸 To all the incredible women out there—you are strong, compassionate, and full of limitless potential. 💙 At Tzu Chi’s Gangshan Campus, a group of elderly women volunteers, many in their 70s and 80s, remind us that age is never a barrier to making a difference. With hammers, drills, and unwavering determination, they dismantle discarded electronics, protecting the Earth while supporting Da Ai TV with the proceeds. Their stories of resilience, dedication, and love show that every woman has the power to create change—no matter her age or circumstances. Today, we celebrate YOU, the women who lead, nurture, and inspire. May you continue to shine, uplift others, and make the world a better place. 🌏✨ 💐 Happy Women’s Day! Your kindness and strength make the world brighter. #InternationalWomensDay #TzuChi #TzuChiVolunteers

During the cold winter in Manchester, Tzu Chi UK volunteers returned to Cornerstone Day Centre, bringing warmth through care packages and a warm meal. 🧣☕ Each care package included blankets, insulated tumblers, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, underwear, and hygiene supplies—essential items that provide comfort and relief in the cold. ❄️ Volunteers also shared the story of Tzu Chi’s bamboo coin bank, inspiring recipients to do good deeds, no matter how small. 💫 Because, even a single act of kindness can create a ripple effect, bringing hope and support to those in need. In the end, a total of 135 individuals received support, made possible with 11 dedicated volunteers working united. As they sang along, their worries seemed to ease, replaced by moments of warmth and joy. 💕 #TzuChiUK #SpreadingLove #WinterAid #Manchester

Since its founding in 1994, Tzu Chi Philippines has been a beacon of hope, bringing disaster relief, free medical care, and education to those in need. ✨ From responding to Typhoon Haiyan’s devastation to conducting 265 free clinics and awarding over 13,000 scholarships, volunteers have poured their hearts into uplifting lives with unwavering dedication. 🏡 A new beginning for Haiyan survivors – Tzu Chi Philippines built the Palo Great Love Village, providing permanent homes for families affected by Typhoon Haiyan and ensuring they have a safe, stable future. 👨⚕️ Doctors and volunteers healing thousands – Through 265 free clinics, Tzu Chi Philippines has provided essential medical care to thousands of underserved patients, bringing relief to those with limited access to healthcare. 🎓 Education as a path out of poverty – Since 1995, Tzu Chi Philippines has awarded over 13,000 scholarships, empowering students with the opportunity to pursue a brighter future. 🏃 A charity run bringing hope—one step at a time – Tzu Chi Philippines’ first-ever charity run gathered 6,000 participants, with proceeds funding scholarships to help underprivileged students stay in school. From past to present, countless acts of kindness have shaped this incredible journey. As Tzu Chi Philippines steps into the next 30 years, we extend our deepest gratitude to every volunteer, donor, and supporter who makes this mission possible. 🌏 Together, we continue to bring love and relief to those who need it most. 💖 “In the face of difficulty, just wholeheartedly do our best with all our strength and effort.” —Jing Si Aphorisms #TzuChiPhilippines #HumanitarianAid #DisasterRelief #FreeClinics #EducationForAll #GreatLoveVillage #CharityRun

At 12:17 AM on January 21, 2024, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Dapu Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan causing severe damage in Nanxi and Yujing Districts of Tainan. Homes were left cracked, and many families faced hardship overnight. 🏡 Tzu Chi volunteers rushed to provide aid, delivering hot meals, blankets, and essential supplies. 🍲 Even during the Lunar New Year, they remained on duty, ensuring survivors felt warmth and support. Now, restoration volunteers from northern, central, and southern Taiwan have joined forces to repair damaged homes in Nanxi District. 👷♂️👷♀️ With skilled hands and compassionate hearts, they brought their own materials and worked voluntarily to help affected families rebuild. 🔨 Through dust, sweat, and long hours of labor, their selfless love and determination continue to bring hope and new beginnings to those in need. 🙏✨ #TzuChi #DisasterRelief #EarthquakeRecovery

📚 Books Are Windows to the World! 🌎 Tzu Chi teams up with the Mexican government to help students in Tijuana improve their reading skills with a mobile library. 🚐 At the Hope Classroom in Tzu Chi Tijuana Center, over 100 children discovered the joy of choosing their own books—many for the very first time. Each child left with two books gifted by Tzu Chi, their faces glowing with excitement. 📖✨ 👩 Volunteer Jessica Su shared the heart behind the event: “Books are children’s gateway to the world. We hope these stories will inspire their love for reading and help them explore beyond their daily experiences.” 👧 High school student Yareli shared her excitement: “This book on the physics of medicine fascinated me! I can’t wait to read it and share what I learn with my classmates.” 🧑🏫 Teacher Vitor Alfonso Hernandez reflected on the impact of reading: “Regular reading not only strengthens students' language skills and creativity but also enhances their self-expression—benefits that will support them in both their daily lives and future careers.” Through this meaningful collaboration with the Mexican government, Tzu Chi is helping students build reading habits, spark curiosity, and reach for a brighter future. 🌟 #TzuChiMexico #MobileLibrary #SDG4 #QualityEducation