Volunteering in Vietnam: Back in gear
after the years
HO CHI MINH, Vietnam - Volunteers bring
medical resources to destitute areas in Vietnam. Widespread
poverty has caused a desperate need for such services, and
yet for a few years, Tzu Chi was banned
from the country.
Medical relief
Local Tzu Chi volunteers in Vietnam loaded
up medical supplies and headed to the location of the free
clinic - the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City.
They were greeted by several patients who
had arrived ahead of time, waiting. The day began as volunteers
accompanied the patients through the registration and helped
with translation. They also performed sign-language songs
for the patients in waiting.
Services provided this time included regular
health checks, eye exams, traditional Chinese medicine, as
well as consultation for more serious conditions. After the
medical consultation, patients were further given relief supplies
by Tzu Chi volunteers, who hoped to help ease the burden of
the impoverished Vietnamese.
Persistence in the mission against poverty
For many of the Vietnamese, poverty is
a fact of life. Despite recent improvements in economic trade,
Vietnam remains largely a poor country, where close to 30%
of its population still live below the poverty line.
For more than 10 years, local Tzu Chi volunteers
in Vietnam held many large scale free clinics and relief distributions
throughout Vietnam. But in year 2000, local Tzu Chi volunteers'
charitable activities were once banned by the government due
to a misunderstanding. With persistence and perseverance,
local volunteers regained the trust of the government 3 years
later.
Tzu Chi is an international Buddhist charity
relief organization founded by Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Charity
and Medicine are two of the foremost Missions of the organization,
and volunteers worldwide are motivated to alleviate the suffering
caused from poverty and illness.
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.
