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Tzu Chi has completed the construction of Great Love Village for earthquake victims in El Salvador

Pays
Salvador
Sources
Tzu Chi Foundation
Date de publication

(Extract)
In the beginning of 2001, El Salvador, the Central American country, was hit by two earthquakes measuring 7.6 and 6.6 on the Richter Scale. The death tolls reached 1,200, with 7,000 people injured, 220,000 homes destroyed, leaving about 1.2 millions people homeless.

After the earthquake, Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers from Taiwan and U.S.A. visited the disaster area five times to distribute relief supplies and provide free medical services. Approximately 35,750 people benefited from the food distribution and 6,729 from the free clinics. Subsequent to that, Tzu Chi planned to build Great Love Villages in Sacacoyo and Chanmico for about 1,175 families.

On Oct 31, 2003, Tzu Chi Great Love Village in Chanmico (Great Love Village II) was completed. There was an inaugural ceremony as well as charity activities, such as supplies distribution and free clinics.

This was the second Great Love Village project accomplished by Tzu Chi; the first one was in Sacacoyo, which was completed in year 2002.

The earthquake victims who reside in Great Love Village I in Sacacoyo are proud to live in this clean and tidy environment, which is much better than their previous living areas. Teachers and students in Tzu Chi Elementary school in the Great Love Village even help the poor people living in the slum areas nearby to clean their environment.

Inside Great Love Village in Sacacoyo, a giant white Hand with Tzu Chi logo, symbolizing great love and teamwork, is situated in the middle of the park, surrounded by several bench chairs, with villagers strolling by. The children would climb the giant Hand, and villagers would even take turns safe guarding it day and night. From this, we can see that Master Cheng Yen's wish of a peaceful society free of calamities through "working harmoniously together with one heart and one mind" is reflected in the villagers' love of Tzu Chi Great Love Village.

Residents living in Chanmico Great Love Village also held backyard design contest, where the people were awarded during the inaugural ceremony.

Tzu Chi Foundation pointed out that the Great Love Villages in Sacacoyo and Chanmico have a total of 1,175 households. The size of each unit is 11 ping, or about 391 square feet. Each unit includes one living room, dinning room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. Each building is a duplex structure. There are schools, clinics, and community center with children's playgrounds and soccer fields in each community. Aside from housing needs, the communities are intended to provide quality lives for residents. Children can receive good education, the sick can be taken care of, and the residents can have mass in the community center each weekend. Therefore, besides the physical needs, the spiritual needs are addressed.

There are a total 835 households with about 4,000 residents in the Chanmico Great Love Village. During the inaugural ceremony, President Flores of El Salvador and the First Lady were present, and the President even gave speech to express his gratitude to Tzu Chi. The Bishop from local church conducted a special mass to thank Taiwan Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation for their profound work and attentive contribution in El Salvador.

Tzu Chi Foundation prepared daily necessity supplies as house warming gifts for the new residents of Great Love Village II. Aside from that, Tzu Chi extended its love to the 1,000 poor families in Ahuachapan by providing necessities to them as well.

Besides the inaugural ceremony of the Great Love Village, Tzu Chi also hosted large scale free Clinics in El Salvador. This event was mainly supported by TIMA (Tzu Chi International Medical Associations), USA. There were medical professionals from the US, including family doctors, optometrists, dermatologists, dentists, podiatrists and gynecologists etc. Besides US medical professionals, local medical professionals and volunteers also participated in this free clinic. Tzu Chi also cooperated with local Care Organization to carryout the free clinics in Ahuachapan and Santa Ana. Some of the medical supplies were purchased in El Salvador while some were provided by Tzu Chi free clinics in the US.

Tzu Chi Foundation stated that after on site assessments, it was discovered that the unemployment rates in the two Great Love Village were as high as 80%. In order to improve the residents' lives, Tzu Chi would cooperate with local NGO to propose feasibility reports to assist residents with job hunting.

(End of Extract)

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