Poverty. BB Citizenship Stage 2 badgework

1. Poverty
Social
entrepreneur:
•Tzu Chi

2. Introduction of Tzu Chi
The Tzu Chi Foundation or Tzu Chi, literally "Compassionate Relief", is an
international humanitarian organization and the largest non-governmental
organization (NGO) in the Chinese-speaking world with a special consultative
status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The organization was founded by Dharma Master Cheng Yen, a Buddhist nun,
on May 14, 1966 in Hualien, Taiwan. She was inspired by her master and
mentor, the late Venerable Master Yin Shun (印順導師), a significant
proponent of Humanistic Buddhism, who exhorted her to "work for Buddhism
and for all sentient beings."In mountainous Hualien, Master Cheng Yen was
moved to act by the poverty and lack of services, and decided to set up a
charity organization. The endeavor began as a group of thirty housewives who
set aside a small amount of their grocery money each day to care for needy
families. From these humble beginnings, the group has grown to become a
major civil society actor, with approximately 10 million members, and
chapters in 47 countries. The group's core activities span Charity, Medicine,
Education and Humanistic Culture, and it provides aid to all people regardless
of race, religion or nationality. With particularly deep roots in Asia, Tzu Chi is
considered one of the most effective aid agencies in the region.

3. Introduction of Tzu Chi
Tzu Chi conducts its mission via an international network of volunteers. They are
easily recognized by their blue and white uniforms, and Tzu Chi relief workers
have been called "blue angels" for this distinctive appearance. Tzu Chi volunteers
often refer to their uniforms as 藍天白雲 ( lit. 'blue sky, white clouds').
Tzu Chi Foundation also has the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association (慈濟大專青
年) or Tzu Youth (慈青) in short. They actively do the four missions of Tzu Chi
especially charity work. They also promote vegetarianism make the youth
generation be aware of world issues and environmental protection.
Tzu Chi has several sub-organizations, such as the Tzu Chi International Medical
Association, composed of medical profession personnel who travel overseas to
volunteer their services in poor communities without access to medical care and
during international disaster relief.
As a non-profit organization, Tzu Chi has built many hospitals and schools
worldwide, including a network of world-class medical facilities in Taiwan and a
comprehensive education system spanning from kindergarten through university
and medical school. Schools were also rebuilt in the aftermath of earthquakes in
Iran, China and Haiti. The organization maintains a small number of nuns, who
are self-sufficient, including growing their own food.

4. History and Impact of Tzu Chi
Tzu Chi was founded in 1966, focusing mainly on charitable volunteer
work. Through 10 years of experience in helping the needy and the sick,
Master Cheng Yen realized that sickness often leads to poverty, and that
dong charity only provides temporary solutions to the problems. Master
realized that curing people’s diseases can actually prevent poverty. So in
1972, with the support of some doctors and medical professionals from
the Hualien Provincial Hospital, Tzu Chi started holding twice weekly free
medical missions for the poor in the area. The doctors even went on
regular home visits to far flung areas where medical services were not
available. In 1988, it was expanded to “Tzu Chi International Medical
Association” or TIMA, which was to become a venue for compassionate
medical professionals who want to give back to society and reach out to
every corner in where medical help is needed. Each place has their own
scenario and although resources may be limited, TIMA volunteers still
can’t ignore/endure to see people suffering, regardless of whether its
from poverty or sickness or suffering heart because to them there’s no
difference, they’ll need all the help they can get.

5. History and Impact of Tzu Chi
Tzu Chi Foundation also has the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association a.k.a
Tzu Youth. They actively do the four missions of Tzu Chi especially charity
work. They also promote vegetarianism make the youth generation be
aware of world issues and environmental protection. The goals for the
Tzu Chi Collegiate Association are to promote morals, strengthen
character, instill a spirit of "great mercy even to strangers and great
compassion for all," exemplify humility, respect and elegance in character,
and become an example for all young people of the community. The
group works to improve campus environments everywhere by holding
various school activities and spreading information regarding Tzu Chi.
Through Tzu Chi activities, more and more students experience the Great
Love of Tzu Chi endeavors and, in turn, themselves spread the same
vitality throughout their schools. The Collegiate Association also
promotes, develops and executes the four major Tzu Chi missions:
charity, medicine, education and culture.

6. Taken From :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzu_Chi
http://tw.tzuchi.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=358%3Atzu-
chi-collegiate-youth-association&catid=88%3Aassociations-&Itemid=296&lang=en
http://tw.tzuchi.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277:tzu-chi-
international-medical-association&catid=88:associations-&Itemid=296
Group Name : Itchy Fingers
Group Members : LCP Chee Tao Kang
LCP Joson Che
LCP Kingston Lim
LCP Bok Wen Yang