Mid-term projects start in Sichuan and second wave of Tzu Chi aid for Myanmar begins.

Mid-term projects start in Sichuan

Apart from hot meals, free clinics and other emergency services, Tzu Chi volunteers in the earthquake region of China have already started mid-term projects. Construction of temporary classrooms for four quake damaged schools is going well, and the Tzu Chi Medical Center has signed an agreement with Shifang People's Hospital.

Temporary classrooms for 4 schools

Temporary school buildings currently under construction are expected to give 4,620 students a place to study.

Luoshui Middle, Luoshui Central Elementary, Bayi Elementary and Lingjie Middle schools should all have prefabricated classrooms by mid July.

Tzu Chi Disaster Relief Team member, Chen Jinfa: "Although they are temporary classrooms, they are brand new. Inside they are bright and airy. We thought of everything. In fact, they are no different to regular classrooms."

In addition to schooling, the physical and mental health of survivors cannot be overlooked.

Holistic recovery effort

Volunteers are working together with local authorities to offer holistic recovery services.

According to figures up to the 2nd of June, the Tzu Chi Foundation has committed over 1,700 volunteers. In excess of 80,000 hot meals have been handed out, and more than 5,000 cases have been seen at free clinics.

In addition, volunteers in 31 countries around the world, including Singapore, have raised funds, in the hope that disaster victims will be able to rebuild their lives as soon as possible.

Encouraging words for quake children

Now back in Taiwan, Sichuan disaster relief team member Teng Anna says parting with children in the quake-hit region was hard. "I told them, one day, if you really miss aunty, when you grow up, or any time someone needs help, you can offer them a helping hand."

Second wave of Tzu Chi aid for Myanmar

One month after cyclone Nargis, the Myanmar government has issued official permission for Tzu Chi to organize aid relief in affected areas. In Taiwan and Malaysia, preparations are underway for the second mission to Myanmar since four distributions were carried out last month.

Official pass issued for Tzu Chi relief work

As the aid relief members give out aid packages, they put their hands together and bow with respect. Soaking in rain themselves, the team props up a long plastic shield for the long queue. This courtesy to others has won the trust of the Myanmar government, who issued an official request for Tzu Chi to continue their relief work.

Tzu Chi aid relief coordinator, Chen Jiren: "The government didn't know about Tzu Chi before, but when we held some aid relief, the government gave us great acknowledgement. Now they have officially invited us to do aid relief there."

Four distributions since cyclone Nargis
Since the Nargis cyclone on May 5th, Tzu Chi volunteers from Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia have assembled a team of nine people for preliminary assessment in Myanmar on May 10th. After negotiating with the locals, four aid distributions were held from 15th to 23rd. Volunteers happily return for the second wave of aid relief upon hearing government approval.

Chen Jiren says, "We hope to provide short, mid, and long term aid relief for Myanmar's disaster victims. They also hope we will survey the area to see if we can hold aid distributions when they start community reconstruction."

One month has passed since cyclone Nargis, and emergency relief has evolved to a long-term reconstruction project. Volunteers proceed with careful evaluation so their efforts can be precisely pooled to help victims rebuild their lives.