DaAiTV DaAiHeadline_20110719 Bridge over troubled water

After much of eastern China suffered terrible flooding in 1991, Tzu Chi went against the tide, and offered a helping hand across the Taiwan Strait, at a time when relations between the two sides were at a low point. On August 15, of the same year, volunteers arrived in Quanjiao County, of Anhui Province, to assess needs in the severely-hit area. Now 19 years later, Tzu Chi is still working in China.


( Taking disaster into account )

On July 15, 1991, Tzu Chi founder Master Cheng Yen made a plea to help victims of the China flood. The very next day, Tzu Chi advertized a donation account number, set up a disaster relief team, and made other preparations.

Tzu Chi vice executive director, Wang Duanzheng:" The vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council at the time was Mr. Ma Yingjiu. When Mr. Ma Yingjiu heard we were going to China as an NGO to deliver aid, of course he looked forward to that."

( Charity by numbers )

On August 11, a Tzu Chi reconnaissance team set out nervously for Beijing to explain their relief plans.

Quanjiao economic development director, Chou Pei:" We had one goal, two principles, three nos, four kinds of aid, and five hopes."

Now Quanjiao County's economic development area director, at the time, Chou Pei was the Taiwan affairs director for the flood-hit county in Anhui Province.

Quanjiao economic development director, Chou Pei:" The one goal was to aid the mainland area and the disaster-affected people. The two principles were direct and essential aid. They told the Ministry of Civil Affairs, that if they were going to go, they wanted to go to the worst-hit areas, which was Anhui, and Quanjiao."

( Heading for worst-hit areas )

Tzu Chi volunteers pushed deep into the disaster area,

taking boats where there were no roads. Traveling any distance, at any time, day or night, the volunteers went wherever they were needed.

Tzu Chi volunteer, Huang HuadeL:" I often talk about the four stages. The first is being very happy to go where we are needed. The second is starting to regret, because when we start working for real, we visit every village, every disaster area, and household. We would make one, two or three visits."

Former Anhui Province governor, Yan Shouyu:" They went without sleep or food, sometimes not eating lunch until 3 or 4 o'clock. Not only would they skip dinner, they would get back very very late."

( Putting flood victims 1st )

Whatever the residents needed, from quilt jackets, rice, to housing, Tzu Chi volunteers gladly and respectfully delivered the aid into the hands of disaster victims.

Tzu Chi volunteer, Huang Huade:" For the last two decades, we haven't stopped for a single year. Even in 1999, when the 9/21 quake hit Taiwan, we were in China. When the Master visited Taichung, she was still concerned about our Chinese compatriots."

Tzu Chi volunteer, Huang Huade:" The third stage is being very moved. And the fourth is not wanting to go back, and wanting to stay."

( Bridge across trouble Strait )

On August 20, 2010, Tzu Chi officially set up shop in China's Suzhou.

ARATS president, Chen Yunlin:" I want to thank Tzu Chi people. When cross-Strait relationships were very difficult, Tzu Chi people opened a bridge of communication between our compatriots on both sides of the Strait."

Tzu Chi has been making steps in China for the past 19 years, and leaving an impression wherever it goes.