Fundraising for Indian Earthquake Relief
(Translated by Mike Lee, Northern California)
In order to help survivors of the recent Indian
earthquake rebuild their homes, Malaysian Tzu Chi members intend
to raise 3.8 million Ringgits [US$1 million]. Volunteers have
ventured deep into school campuses and residential districts
and broken down ethnic barriers to mobilize the compassion of
Malaysia.
Although teachers had reminded their students that donating
money must be done within the limits of their personal ability,
almost none of their grade school students listened. They kept
on pouring their allowance money into donation boxes. Even during
recess, they gathered around volunteers. It was the students'
charity day, so whether they had money left to buy snacks no
longer mattered. One teacher at the Culture Elementary School
in Melaka said, "It doesn't matter how much money you have,
you can donate your allowance money, but keep a bit so that
later, during recess, you can still have a snack."
When asked, "Now that you don't have money for snacks
or toys, what are you going to do?" one student at the
Culture Elementary School replied, "It's no problem, because
we must do one good deed every day." The innocence of these
students was quite touching. Besides going on campus, the Tzu
Chi fundraising efforts also break through racial barriers.
At the annual celebration of Sikh devotees in Melaka, volunteers
politely bowed and rushed in and out among the crowds of people.
They took turns receiving donations like a relay team. This
resolve inspired the Sikhs, who were at the temple to pray for
blessings upon the Sikhs, to instead pray for blessings for
Indian quake victims. They hoped that the quake victims would
have "good fortune and joy."
Why must Tzu Chi come to the aid of Indian quake victims? Many
people of Chinese descent in Malaysia were not clear about this
and were even rather suspicious. Therefore, lectures were given
again and again to raise community awareness that helping others
to reduce suffering also accumulates blessings for oneself.
Benevolence sprouts at the instant that one makes that financial
contribution.
