Great Love Village in El Salvador
Nears Completion
(Translated by Joy Hsiao, New York)
In another month, earthquake victims in El
Salvador will leave their temporary shelters and move into the
Tzu Chi Great Love Village, where every house is equipped with
its own toilet and running water. Children will be able to attend
schools nearby and will not need to move again for the rest
of their lives.
On January 14 of this year, El Salvador was
hit with a strong earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter
scale. Five months have passed, but afflicted areas are still
desolate and reconstruction is nowhere in sight. Sacacoyo, at
the epicenter of the earthquake, is the most devastated area.
Survivors' hopes of reconstruction began here and their dreams
will soon be realized with the Tzu Chi Great Love Village.
The 1,327 Tzu Chi Great Love houses, constructed
of concrete poured over steel-reinforced concrete blocks, are
built to last. The houses are earthquake-proof, and the white
brick and red roof design mimics local architecture. The village
also has a park, activity center, medical clinic, soccer field,
and middle and elementary schools.
Inside a Great Love house, there are bedrooms,
a living room, a toilet, and running water. Thus villagers will
no longer have to drink well water. In another month, earthquake
victims will move into the Great Love Village and begin a new
life. The feeling of owning a home will gradually replace the
pain caused by the earthquake. This is another miracle created
by the love of Tzu Chi people around the world.
