Working Together for Relief in Lesotho
LESOTHO- Tzu Chi has been active in the
beautiful country of Lesotho for a decade now. This country
in Africa has a reputation for its beauty, but also for its
starving and poverty-stricken people. For this reason Tzu
Chi volunteers of many nationalities came together to hold
three large-scale distributions in Lesotho. Despite the harsh
weather, volunteers and recipients celebrated coming together
at the relief.
3 large-scale distributions
It's summer in Taiwan, but the temperature
is dropping in Lesotho, where winter has begun. In this Southern
African country, Tzu Chi held a large-scale charity event
in the highlands. Working together, the volunteers moved over
24,000 kilograms of relief supplies across Lesotho's highlands
for distribution to more than 800 families, benefiting a total
of 3200 people.
Volunteers from many nations
The sand and wind make the highlands a
difficult place to work, especially moving heavy materials
and traveling. A volunteer from Lesotho suggested three locations
for the distribution to be held: Sekamaneng, Ha Tikoe, and
Setibing. Social welfare workers also helped the distribution
by creating a list of residents and items that are needed.
Numbers of poor growing
Lesotho is a very small African country
landlocked by South Africa. Its area is over 30,000 square
kilometers, which is slightly smaller than Taiwan. Most of
its population of 2 million people is farmers. Lesotho is
also known as the "Kingdom in the Sky" because of
its high plains. But with its beautiful views, it is also
called the "Switzerland of Africa".
However, only one fifth of this beautiful country is farmable.
The rest is too high or mountainous for agriculture. Several
other factors also make things difficult for Lesotho's farmers.
Seven months of the year is snow season. Farming techniques
are unsophisticated. And since 2001, climate conditions have
become increasingly abnormal. All this has contributed to
the poor living conditions of Lesotho. Every year, the country
receives financial assistance from South Africa, yet the cost
of rice has doubled, and the number of poor has increased.
Since 2002, Tzu Chi volunteers began a project to supply rice
and food to the starving people in Lesotho.
Tzu Chi grows to help others
Tzu Chi established a liaison office in
Lesotho 10 years ago, in 1995. Wu Wen Zhang founded the office
based on the teachings of Master Cheng Yen, on giving back
to the community that one makes a living from. Under this
principle, Mr. Zhang accomplished many positive deeds for
Lesotho and gathered much support and volunteers. Volunteers
of several nationalities have united under Tzu Chi to help
care for recipients and local orphans. In February 2000, Tzu
Chi created 15 vocational training centers to help residents
develop work skills and lift themselves out of poverty.
At
the distribution, Tzu Chi volunteers handed out blankets to
appreciative residents. In the future, Tzu Chi volunteers
will continue to help the people of Lesotho overcome their
difficulties.
Edited from Da Ai (Great Love) News, a
broadcast program of Tzu Chi's television station. For more
information on Tzu Chi's Da Ai TV, please visit http://www.newdaai.tv.
