Joy in Bloemfontein and Ladysmith
Reported by Huang Li-yun and Lin
Tien-chin
(Translated by Douglas Shaw)
On June 24, early winter in South Africa,
volunteers from Tzu Chi offices all over the country gathered
in the Bloemfontein sports stadium to hold a large-scale winter
distribution for the poor. An estimated 1,300 families received
relief supplies.
For the convenience of the recipients, Tzu
Chi volunteers divided the supplies into two large bags. One
contained such daily necessities as sugar, corn meal, vegetable
oil, flour and a blanket; the other contained sports clothes
and a sweater donated by local businesses. Volunteers had originally
planned to hand out a thousand units at this year's winter distribution.
However, many Taiwanese businesses supported the activity by
donating money or winter clothing. Thus 1,300 families received
material support.
By nine in the morning, throngs of people
filled the stadium. Tzu Chi Youth members scurried about greeting
recipients and entertaining them with songs and dances, so that
the site was filled with a warm atmosphere. The premier of Free
State Province also attended and helped Tzu Chi volunteers distribute
supplies. "I am very grateful to Tzu Chi people for everything
they have done for our citizens. Our government departments
should learn from you…" The premier ex-pected that
he would become a Tzu Chi volunteer himself in the future.
For many years, Tzu Chi people in South Africa
have been serving the local society, and they have received
praises from the local people and government. In order to help
with the distribu-tion, local police sent three police cars
and twenty-five policemen to maintain order at the distri-bution
site. However, under the preparations that the Tzu Chi people
had so mindfully made, the distribution was very orderly and
the atmosphere was harmonious and joyful.
On July 1, over forty Tzu Chi volunteers from
Ladysmith held a winter distribution for five hun-dred families
in the St. Chad's area. Recipients welcomed the arrival of the
volunteers as if they were old friends coming home.
One old woman with rickets limped in painfully
to receive her food and clothes. Her face broke out in a big
smile. Seeing that satisfied, excited expression, the Tzu Chi
people were also in-fected with her happiness.
