On 24 Oct, Brother David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore Branch, led 30 members from the Branch’s Entrepreneur Association and TIMA to Tzu Chi Indonesia Branch. The Singapore team had a fruitful and enriching learning experience during the trip. On the first day, the Indonesia Branch specially included Angke River and Great Love Village in their itinerary. The hard work which the local volunteers have put in impressed and moved them deeply. Picture:30 members from Tzu Chi Singapore’s Entrepreneur Association and TIMA (Tzu Chi International Medical Association) visited Tzu Chi Indonesia Branch. They were deeply impressed by the diligent local volunteers.

Led by their Indonesian counterparts, the businessmen and TIMA members from Tzu Chi Singapore, who lead comfortable lives, stepped into poverty-stricken areas and saw how the locals lived their lives.

Volunteers from Singapore were warmly welcomed by the residents in the Great Love Village, who shared their joy of giving when they participated in the “Bamboo Bank Era” donation drive. (Tzu Chi’s 'Bamboo Era' refers to a period 42 years ago when thirty housewives in Taiwan used bamboo as piggy banks to raise funds for charity in Tzu Chi.)

The well equipped free clinic in Great Love Village which opens 12 hours a day from Monday through Saturday serves to protect the health of the poor and sick.

The volunteers visited Tzu Chi Secondary School and Primary School in the Great Love Village. The schools have 36 classrooms, a welfare centre, a library, an activity centre and a music room. The high school building has computer and science laboratories and there is also an outdoor basketball court. They are rather large schools with good facilities.

On the morning of 24 Oct 2008, the group led by the Branch’s CEO, Brother David Liu, arrived at Jakarta International Airport. They were warmly welcomed by Brother Guo Zai Yuan (Deputy CEO of Indonesia Branch) and his team of volunteers. Their itinerary was carefully planned by four volunteers from the Indonesia Branch’s senior management committee. The development of the Indonesia Branch and the highly committed local volunteers impressed the Singapore team deeply. The trip was filled with many touching moments and the team was amazed by what they had learnt.

Besides visiting Tzu Chi Hospital, Great Love Village, Tzu Chi schools, Tzu Chi Angke River, Nurul Iman Boarding School, Jing Si Books and Café, and the first Tzu Chi Da Ai TV station overseas, the Singapore team also went to slums where they had a first-hand experience of what it’s like living in destitution.

They witnessed scenes of human suffering as well as the Indonesian volunteers’ deeds of kindness. Great love from the Buddhist charity has dissolved the hatred of the people of the largest Islamic country in the world and the sincere loving care they demonstrate has helped them to bond with the locals. They are able to transcend all barriers posed by religion, race, language and past animosity - as the Master says, “Strife does not exist in the presence of love.”    

The corporate leaders in Indonesia, recognizing their own blessings, have adhered to the Master’s teachings. They practise the six paramitas (qualities leading to Buddhahood) through deeds which help to alleviate the suffering of the poor. One of the 20 challenges faced by human beings as mentioned by the Buddha is: “It is hard for the rich to learn the Dharma and difficult for the poor to give.” However, from what we have seen and heard, this is not impossible in Indonesia. Sister Qiu-Wei Qin Ji (a member of the Entrepreneur Association) commended the Indonesia Branch and said, “Four years ago, the Master said that Indonesia would be “illuminated” (by the great love from Tzu Chi). Isn’t that exactly what we have witnessed here?”   

Tzu Chi Angke River

Angke River, which has been renamed Tzu Chi Angke River, is where the light shines. Two centuries ago, when Indonesia was still a Dutch colony, countless Chinese perished in the race riots occurred by the river. Their blood coloured the water red - this was how it got its original name – Angke, which means “red stream”.  

In 1998, Indonesia was affected by the Asian currency crisis and a riot in which the local Chinese were the main targets occurred in May. Pandemonium broke out and there was much unrest everywhere. Many Chinese had to evacuate as a result.

Then, the Master told the Indonesian volunteers that it was actually not a case of racial discrimination but rather the huge income gap between the poor natives and wealthy Chinese. She advised them to distribute relief supplies to the poor quickly, otherwise the Chinese would still continue to be discriminated in the next 10 years. Sister Liu Sumei, CEO of Tzu Chi Indonesia Branch, conducted the distribution of medical supplies as planned. A year later, 50,000 tons of rice were distributed to the poor in different parts of the country. This inspired kindness in many entrepreneurs and attracted many new volunteers. A succession of Tzu Chi branches and contact points were established as a result.

In January 2002, there were widespread floods in Jakarta. Most of the land covering an area of 10-square-kilometre was submerged by floodwater. The government pumped the water out of the flooded areas and channelled it to Angke river. This move seriously affected close to 10,000 residents who lived in dilapidated houses on stilts above the river.

Tzu Chi Indonesia Branch gave a report on the situation to the Master, who suggested a 5-fold rescue project: pump excess water out of the river, clear the rubbish, disinfect the region, establish a free clinic and build new houses. She hoped that local businessmen could spearhead the rescue operations and serve as role models so that the government would encourage others to join in. After meeting with the Master, Mr Huang Yi Cong, a renowned corporate leader, gathered a group of young and robust entrepreneurs, including his son, Huang Rong Nian, and other businessmen such as Guo Zai Yuan, Lin Feng Shen and Fu Zhi Kuan. The group planned and carried out the five projects as suggested. With Tzu Chi’s great love, the waters of filth-filled Angke River became clear again.

Construction of Great Love Village

The construction of Great Love Village for the Angke River residents is indeed a project of great love. Local businessmen sold ten acres of land worth US$60,000,000 to Tzu Chi for only US$10,000,000 for the latter to build the village.

The Foundation hoped to collect US$5,000,000 in donations. As they were worried that this would not be achievable, Guo Zai Yuan and Huang Rong Nian agreed to donate half of the amount each. However, the Master said, “You must collect donations from the people when you return home. Every brick must come from the cumulative effort of all.”          
As a successful businessman, Ah Guan (Brother Guo Zai Yuan) revealed that he knew he had to cast aside his pride and humble himself while collecting money from others as soliciting donations was not an easy task. After discussing with his spiritual partner – his wife, he was determined to take the first step. The couple listed all their business enterprises and friends, set targets and started a donation drive. 

“The most valuable lesson I’ve learnt in Tzu Chi is how to let go and receive - letting go of the tangible assets and receiving the intangible ones. When human beings encounter adversities, they usually seek some form of excitement such as gambling or drinking. However, one can actually find joy in Tzu Chi when one faces adversity,” said Brother Yuan.      

A year later, when the construction of the Great Love Village was completed, the Angke River residents moved into their new apartments joyfully. Every unit is equipped with furniture and there are green fields outside where children can run about and play. The village also has a school and a hospital. Thus, the residents are able to live without worries and their children can develop healthily.

The deed of an apartment is renewable every two years and is not allowed to be transferred to the next generation. This regulation ensures fairness by encouraging young people to move out and be independent, thereby allowing other poor people to move in. The Master said, “When we help people by providing them with housing and education, we hope that the younger generation can learn to be independent when they grow up instead of remaining dependent.”          

A grateful resident in the Great Love Village said, “The environment is excellent. Education is inexpensive and everything is very cheap here. The kids’ future is filled with hope and what we have received will lead to success. Hopefully, the kids would grow up to be like Tzu Chi volunteers who are able to repay the society as responsible individuals.”