| At
1:47 a.m. on September 21, 1999, an earthquake measuring
7.6 on the Richter scale struck central Taiwan. The quake
was the most powerful in a century. It killed 2,400 people
and left 50,000 homes in ruins.
 Volunteers
of Tzu Chi Foundation immediately provided emergency aid
and built temporary communities for quake victims. As
the foundation continued to give long-term support, it
went to work on reconstructing the damaged land.
Steadfast resolution
When Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu
Chi Foundation, undertook the task of rebuilding damaged
schools, many people were daunted by the enormous costs
of the project. But Master Cheng Yen knew hope of the
future was in education and she remained steadfast in
her resolution. One by one, Tzu Chi pledged to rebuild
50 schools near the epicenter that were damaged most heavily.
These schools included large city schools of several thousand
students and tiny schools in remote mountains.
Principles behind the design
Two buildings that must not fall in
a disaster are the hospital and the school. The hospital
must stay operational to treat the injured and the school
would be the shelter for anyone needing it. With this
requirement, plus environmental and humanistic considerations,
the 51 unique schools were designed to the same three
principles:
- Construction with sulfate resistant
cement with steel framework and reinforcement
- Energy conservation and re-use
of natural resources
- Harmony with the surrounding environment
Architects worked closely with Tzu
Chi and school staff to finalize the designs after many
iterations. The resulting schools make good use of sunlight,
are naturally well ventilated, and form pleasant scenes
with the surroundings. The schools have rain collection
systems that save rainwater for watering plants and for
restrooms. Walk paths and squares are paved with bricks
to allow the earth beneath to breathe.
 Joint
effort of the community
Residents around the schools were impressed
by the quietness and cleanliness of the construction sites,
many even brought snacks and meals to construction workers.
Lighter-duty tasks such as paving brick paths and landscaping
were also accomplished by the joint effort of Tzu Chi
volunteers, community residents, even local government
staff and police officers.
As of November 2002, Hope Project costs
total NT$7,558,805,483, or US$217,457,005. The funds were
donated by businesses, other non-profit organizations,
government agencies, and millions of individuals from
Taiwan and abroad.
The care and blessing of so many
people are what gives these schools life. Thank you for
supporting Hope Project. Your love has become a permanent
part in each one of the classrooms.
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