By: Tshidiso Masopha
If you ever needed proof that small acts add up, look no further than the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. This global humanitarian powerhouse literally started with pocket change. Back in 1966, Dharma Master Cheng Yen gathered about 30 housewives in Hualien, Taiwan, and asked them to save just a few cents a day in little bamboo banks.
That tiny, everyday sacrifice grew into something close to unbelievable: a charity active in over 60 countries and delivering aid across 130+ regions worldwide.
Tzu Chi has had an active presence in SA since the early 1990. A winter-relief distribution event in Gauteng has reached around 3,000 residents from informal settlements with essential aid to help them through the chilly season.
In Cape Town’s Delft community, Tzu Chi volunteers make regular home visits to support households living under hardship and danger, offering not only material help, but companionship, emotional support, and even rehabilitation assistance. Moreover, Tzu Chi in South Africa is nurturing the next generation: they run tutoring programmes for children in underserved townships, organise volunteer days where school-age youth help pack relief parcels or refurbish essentials, and host events promoting ecological living and compassion-driven choices.
They’ve also built a local base of operations. The “Jing Si Hall” in Johannesburg was inaugurated a few years ago, the first of its kind in Africa. It serves as a centre for volunteers to gather, train, organise outreach, and build community solidarity.
A Mission Rooted in Compassion
Tzu Chi’s philosophy is grounded in Humanistic Buddhism, living in unrelenting compassion. Over time, their work has expanded into what they call the Four Missions: Charity, Medicine, Education, and Humanistic Culture.
Later, they added four more major impact areas: International Relief, Bone Marrow Donation, Environmental Protection, and Community Volunteerism. The result? A wide-reaching organisation that’s spiritual in origin but practical in action.
Disaster Relief That Shows Up Fast
The foundation also prides itself on being present when disaster strikes. Earthquakes, floods, typhoons, and wars also form part of their deliverables. Tzu Chi volunteers are often among the first on the ground. They don’t just drop off emergency supplies, take heartwarming pictures and disappear. They stick around. Think temporary shelters, long-term rebuilding of homes and schools, and ongoing community support long after media attention fades. Their relief teams have responded to crises from Haiti to Nepal to Indonesia.
Healthcare With Heart
Tzu Chi’s medical mission is massive. They run hospitals, mobile clinics, health outreach programs, and the well-known Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA). Doctors, nurses, dentists, and other health professionals volunteer their time to provide free or low-cost care. This is all delivered with a philosophy of dignity for recipients.
Saving Lives Through Bone Marrow Donation
Seeing how difficult it was for many Asian patients to find matching marrow donors, Tzu Chi founded a stem-cell and bone-marrow registry in 1993. It has since grown into one of the most important donor networks in the region, connecting life-saving matches across borders.
Recycling as a Form of Love
Before “sustainability” became a buzzword, Tzu Chi volunteers were sorting plastic bottles by hand. Their thousands of recycling stations, especially in Taiwan, have become a global case study. They even turn recycled PET bottles into blankets, clothing and emergency supplies used in disaster zones. For Tzu Chi, caring for the planet is just another way of caring for people.
Education That Builds More Than Skills
The foundation runs schools, scholarships, and community youth programs. It’s not just about academics; it’s about nurturing empathy, discipline, and a sense of service. Tzu Chi wants to raise people who don’t just succeed in their respective disciplines but also selflessly uplift others.
The Heart of It All: Volunteers
Despite its global scale, Tzu Chi remains volunteer-driven. Millions of supporters donate, mobilise, teach, visit bedridden patients, run food programs, and serve communities with the same spirit that started those bamboo banks.
In a world full of headlines, Tzu Chi is a reminder that real change usually starts quietly – with ordinary people choosing to care. From disaster zones to hospital wards to recycling centres, Tzu Chi’s message remains the same: true compassion goes beyond emotion; it’s an action.
The post Tzu Chi: The Global Charity that started with Spare Change – By Tshidiso Masopha appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News.
If you ever needed proof that small acts add up, look no further than the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
The post Tzu Chi: The Global Charity that started with Spare Change – By Tshidiso Masopha appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News. Read More
