The Care of Tzu Chi People in Bloemfontein
Compiled by Tzu Wa
(Translated by Queenie Huang, Northern California)
On August 19, 2001, members and volunteers
from the Tzu Chi office in Bloemfontein, South Africa, visited
a local orphanage, senior center, disabled center and sanatorium.
The night before the visit, Shih Hung-chi, chief officer of
Tzu Chi South Africa, and his wife, along with Mr. and Mrs.
Fang Lung-sheng from Ladysmith, came to provide guidance for
the local members.
At eight o'clock in the morning, twenty
commissioners and volunteers gathered at the Bloemfontein
office. Before their departure, the organizer of the event,
Sister Tzu Lei, explained to everyone the procedures for the
day's activities.
We first arrived at the orphanage, Mangaung
Outreach Centre. Our youth volunteers led children in various
games and activities which included:
Chopstick Culture
First, the children were taught how to use chopsticks. They
were also educated on basic sanitation habits to prevent various
diseases. The children were then divided into two teams, in
which they competed to see who could pick up the most pieces
of candy with their chopsticks. At the end, you could see
that they applied what they learnt and had fun using chopsticks.
Everything's Changed Beyond Recognition
The game was simple. The children had to use their mouths,
not their hands, to get candies that were placed in a plate
full of flour. It taught them the importance of appreciating
their bodies by experiencing the inconvenience of having no
limbs. It inspired the children to treasure their ability
to fully use their hands and legs.
At the end of the visit, the children received
candy, chocolate and biscuits. They joyfully sang "Amitabha"
in gratitude for the generosity of the Tzu Chi members and
volunteers.
At ten the same morning, we headed to the
Boikhuco Old Age Home, the largest senior center in Bloemfontein,.
This was our first visit to the center. There were approximately
ninety elderly residents, averaging seventy years of age.
Some of them were living alone, while others were disabled.
The residents did not know the purpose of our visit and at
first felt our presence a little strange. When we served coffee
and led them through sign-language songs and a Taiwanese aboriginal
dance, their faces broke out in smiles. Finally, we talked
to the residents about Tzu Chi so that they could know more
about the foundation.
The third place we visited was Jean-Webber's
House, a center for the disabled that we had visited many
times before. From our past experiences, the patients there
were very curious about Chinese food. Therefore, we scheduled
our visit during lunchtime and brought spring rolls for them
to eat. Due to the patients' disabilities, we could not invite
them to join us in dancing or playing games, so Tzu Chi Youth
volunteers led them through a few sign-language songs like
"Family" and "The Power of Love."
At the end of the day, we visited Sanni's
Kitchen, a sanatorium for about forty mentally challenged
individuals. Even the most basic amenities there were severely
lacking. The second floor had no electricity and the roof
was leaking. The sanatorium had to raise funds independently,
since it does not receive any financial funding from the government.
The team brought some basic food and daily
necessities to the residents. Due to their dire situation,
we asked what else they needed. The patients were touched
and some even cried, because it had been a long time since
anyone had visited or brought them things. They needed our
help and we felt a great sense of satisfaction and happiness
knowing we were there for them.
We visited a total of four places that day,
and we had a different experience in each place. On the way
back home, everyone shared his or her thoughts about the day's
events. We only wish we could give our love and care to all
the needy people in the world.
