On 26-29 September 2006, David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore and Malacca, and Tan Chee Wei, Office Manager of Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur, both representing Tzu Chi Taiwan, attended the 15th Annual Consultation of NGOs with UNHCR held in Geneva, Switzerland, evidencing another milestone of the collaboration between Tzu Chi and other NGOs in the world.

UN European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Exterior view of UN European Headquarters where the conference was held.

Tzu Chi Malaysia invited to  participate in the 15th Annual Consultations of NGOs with UNHCR held at Geneva. Representing Tzu Chi is Brother David Liu.

Tzu Chi representatives, Bro. David Liu and Bro. Tan Chee Wei.

UNHCR Malaysia specially arranged for Ms Janet Lim, Director in charge of Asia Pacific Affairs, to meet up with Tzu Chi representatives and for her to have the opportunity to gain a better knowledge of the history and setup of Tzu Chi; and at the same time, expressing gratitude and thanks for the cooperation extended to refugees.

This year’s annual consultation from 27 to 29th September 2006 was held at the United Nations European Headquarters Palais des Nations in Geneva. Representatives from more than 200 NGOs from 77 countries spanning 5 continents congregated for this conference.

Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur branch is the only NGO from Malaysia invited to this conference. It all started in year 2004 when Tzu Chi partnered UNHCR in helping the refugees. From these two years of collaboration, UNHCR has recognized Tzu Chi’s commitment to charity and how it has brought efficiency to aid operations through systematic and regulated volunteer groups.  

As refugees were not granted legal status in Malaysia, most of them just flock to refugee camps which are frequently lack in amenities. The Myanmar refugees in Malaysia are made up of mostly Myanmar Muslims and the Rohingha ethnic group who worships Islam. Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur and UNHCR’s cooperation focuses on supplementing the basic needs and educational development of this group of refugees. A team of volunteer from Tzu Chi support group has been actively providing long term living and medical assistance to these refugees residing in the Selayang area in northern Kuala Lumpur. Having discovered the refugees’ children were deprived of proper education, the Collegian youngsters of Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association also stepped in to help by giving regular tuitions on Malay language and other group dynamics to the kids.

Success from this relief project has led UNHCR to develop greater confidence in Tzu Chi and subsequently invited the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) members to provide free clinic services to other refugees and illegal immigrants housed in the detention camp; bringing warmth to the refugees who are far away from their homeland. The joint collaboration was further strengthened with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Tzu Chi and UNHCR on 1st March 2005. Following the inking of the MOU is a series of joint relief efforts that include providing free clinics to the refugee community and medical assistance for special cases. Tzu Chi’s swift response and commitment to charitable mission has reinforced UNHCR’s favourable impression of Tzu Chi. 

Because of the excellent cooperation extended, UNHCR Malaysia recommended to their Headquarters in Geneva to invite Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur to participate in this year’s conference. In conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of the UNHCR NGO Liaison Unit, the main focus of this year’s agenda was on strengthening cooperation with more NGOs globally and developing a more effective approach to issues on refugees and internally displaced persons.

Over the years, UNHCR has learnt from its experience in various refugee aid programs globally that collaborating with local NGOs makes implementation easier and more efficient. Hence, strengthening collaboration with NGOs is one of the key priorities for UNHCR. Apart from the plenary session which highlighted UNHCR’s priorities and strategies for next year, the three-day conference also included side meetings where discussions on specialist topics were held in the various meeting rooms.

Discussion topics range from regional refugee problems to more in-depth specialist issues such as refugees and IDP identity recognition, human rights and protection, protection of female refugees and their children, emergency education intervention and its protective uses, and refugee resettlement etc. The aim of the annual consultation is to provide an important forum for NGOs, government representatives, the UN and other organizations to raise issues, network and engage in in-depth discussion on implementation issues. The conclusion derived through the analysis of several keynote speakers is that the majority of refugees come from war-torn African countries, followed by West and Central Asian countries affected by political turmoil, hence resulting in a huge flux of refugees.

In the implementation of relief or reconstruction programs, the selection of the NGO to work with and the communication between the local government and implementation unit is of crucial importance. The Uganda Foreign Minister Hon. Sam Kuteesa shared during one of the side discussions that he often encountered “briefcase NGOs” who come to him with a whole briefcase of proposals to participate in various reconstruction programs, only to disappear upon being asked for their track record in implementing such programs. Hence, the selection of a willing and experienced NGO as partner is a critical factor determining the success of the relief programs.

On the second day of the conference, UNHCR Malaysia specially arranged for Director of UNHCR’s Bureau of Asia and the Pacific Ms Janet Lim to meet with Tzu Chi’s representatives to better understand the history and setup of Tzu Chi, as well as to express appreciation for Tzu Chi’s cooperation with UNHCR in Kuala Lumpur. During the meeting, Brother David Liu gave a brief introduction to Tzu Chi’s four missions and eight footprints and explained about its volunteers’ belief and organizational structure. Ms Janet Lim was impressed with Master Cheng Yen’s philosophy on “love as management, precepts as system”. At the same time, extending assistance to largely Islamic and Christian Myanmar refugees fully reflects Tzu Chi’s belief in great love beyond all religious and racial boundaries. In her capacity as Director of UNHCR’s Bureau of Asia and the Pacific, Ms Janet Lim expressed her hope to see more opportunities for collaboration between Tzu Chi and UNHCR Malaysia. 

Findings from the three-day conference were consolidated and presented at the 57th Executive Committee Plenary Session. Overall, the participation in the three-day conference gave Tzu Chi representatives a greater insight into global issues and is also a symbol of international recognition for Tzu Chi’s efforts.