May 16, 2001

Chinese Version

Tzu Chi Helps the Needy on Navajo Indian Reservations
(Translated by H. Philip Hsieh from Great Love News and information supplied by the Tzu Chi Chapter in Arizona)

The Navajo Reservation is located in a remote desert area in Arizona. It is difficult for many local residents to make ends meet, let alone pursue advanced education. Volunteers of the Tzu Chi chapter at Phoenix have been trying to make an impact on both fronts. They are working to relieve the suffering of the needy and to help build a local community college campus.

A case in point is Alice. Her husband is an alcoholic and out of work. She brought in the needed income to support her family by doing odd jobs. Recently she was at the verge of bankruptcy. One of her daughters was mysteriously murdered and the family simply could not pay the funeral expenses incurred. Upon learning of the situation, Tzu Chi provided some relief by paying off the balance of about a thousand dollars for her. They are also continuing to show their concern and help relieve her burden.

In Tuba City, located on the Navajo Reservation, the only opportunity for advanced studies is a local branch of a two-year community college, Dine College. Due to the lack of financial resources, the college does not have its own campus in Tuba City and is using the classrooms of a local high school. Earlier fund-raising attempts to build a campus have collected only $2 million from government and private foundations, far short of the required $6.5 million. The Navajos believe that education is the right way to improve their living standards and refuse to open casinos on their reservations. The first phase of the project, an octagonal Navajo cultural center for the future campus, is mostly completed but still requires fifty thousand dollars to finish. Tzu Chi is working with residents to explore ways of helping them realize their admirable vision.