Tzu Chi Foundation: Making treasure out of trash
By Laura Salinger
Imagine converting trash into treasure. Imagine raising money for your community's most needy and
aiding worldwide victims of natural disasters, while at the same time purifying the earth.
It's not a pipe dream, but it’s the premise of an international non-profit organization that provides
charitable donations and services to those in need. Tzu Chi Foundation, founded by Dharma Master
Cheng Yen in 1966, first began with 30 housewives performing simple charity work in the impoverished
east coast of Taiwan. In 1985, Tzu Chi volunteers abroad began creating local chapters in their new
communities. Since then, the organization has grown into 5 million supporters and 30,000 certified
commissioners around the globe. Aside from donations and financial support from members, the
organization raises most of its funds from recycling aluminum cans and cardboard. In Taiwan, the
recycling program raises millions each year and is then turned back into the local community and
worldwide relief efforts.
As a child in Taiwan, Madison resident Yu-Lien Chu vividly remembers seeing Tzu Chi volunteers as they
scoured the streets for discarded aluminum cans and cardboard boxes. From a young age, she respected
these volunteers who took time out of their day to make a difference. Little did she know that she would
one day head up a local chapter of the Tzu Chi Foundation in the United States.
"I always heard about the good things Tzu Chi volunteers were doing when I lived in Taiwan," Chu said.
"The program is very successful in Taiwan."
Chu, raised by her father (a teacher) and her mother (a housewife), grew up in a large city in Taiwan.
She obtained an undergraduate degree and master's degree in atmospheric science in her native
Imagine converting trash into treasure. Imagine raising money for your community's most needy and
aiding worldwide victims of natural disasters, while at the same time purifying the earth.
It's not a pipe dream, but it’s the premise of an international non-profit organization that provides
charitable donations and services to those in need. Tzu Chi Foundation, founded by Dharma Master
Cheng Yen in 1966, first began with 30 housewives performing simple charity work in the impoverished
east coast of Taiwan. In 1985, Tzu Chi volunteers abroad began creating local chapters in their new
communities. Since then, the organization has grown into 5 million supporters and 30,000 certified
commissioners around the globe. Aside from donations and financial support from members, the
organization raises most of its funds from recycling aluminum cans and cardboard. In Taiwan, the
recycling program raises millions each year and is then turned back into the local community and
worldwide relief efforts.
As a child in Taiwan, Madison resident Yu-Lien Chu vividly remembers seeing Tzu Chi volunteers as they
scoured the streets for discarded aluminum cans and cardboard boxes. From a young age, she respected
these volunteers who took time out of their day to make a difference. Little did she know that she would
one day head up a local chapter of the Tzu Chi Foundation in the United States.
"I always heard about the good things Tzu Chi volunteers were doing when I lived in Taiwan," Chu said.
"The program is very successful in Taiwan."
Chu, raised by her father (a teacher) and her mother (a housewife), grew up in a large city in Taiwan.
She obtained an undergraduate degree and master's degree in atmospheric science in her native
"There are so many college students that just throw their beer cans on the street," Chu said. "On a 20-minute walk, my husband and I can collect
hundreds of cans. Every can you collect goes to helping people."
Chu hopes the recycling program will also create awareness about the impact that littering has on the environment.
"One of our main ideas with the recycling program is to help people become more aware of the items they are throwing out," she said.
While founded in Buddhist tradition, Tzu Chi welcomes volunteers from all different religious backgrounds and cultures. "We want to do it
locally," she said. "We welcome all volunteers and believe that every religion has the same goal."
The international Tzu Chi Foundation has provided a great number of services and charitable donations to people across the globe. Since their
first international relief efforts in 1991 to typhoon-stricken Bangladesh, the organization has provided relief for numerous victims of natural disasters,
including those victimized in the Malaysian floods, the California wildfires, Hurricane Katrina, and the Indonesian earthquake, to name a few. Not
only do they provide monetary relief, but they also encourage independence for disaster victims by involving them in the rebuilding of their
communities.
Dubbed a "volunteer-based, spiritual as well as welfare organization," Tzu Chi focuses its work in the field of charity, medicine, education,
environmental protection, and the promotion of humanistic values and community volunteerism. In the end, they hope to inspire a "global village
of Great Love."
It is the firm belief of Tzu Chi founder, Master Cheng Yen, that worldwide suffering is the result of material deprivation and spiritual poverty. The
organization works to create a greater sense of compassion among the whole global community. Master Cheng Yen has said: "To save the world, we
must begin by transforming human hearts."
Chu modestly acknowledges that the Madison Tzu Chi chapter is very small in comparison to its international parent. But, in the end, it is all the
soldiers of compassion who contribute to a better world.
To learn more about Tzu Chi, visit www.tzuchi.org. To volunteer or donate aluminum cans to support the local Tzu Chi chapter contact Yu-Lien at
(608) 268-7692 or yulienchu@hotmail.com. Visit www.tzuchi.org.
hundreds of cans. Every can you collect goes to helping people."
Chu hopes the recycling program will also create awareness about the impact that littering has on the environment.
"One of our main ideas with the recycling program is to help people become more aware of the items they are throwing out," she said.
While founded in Buddhist tradition, Tzu Chi welcomes volunteers from all different religious backgrounds and cultures. "We want to do it
locally," she said. "We welcome all volunteers and believe that every religion has the same goal."
The international Tzu Chi Foundation has provided a great number of services and charitable donations to people across the globe. Since their
first international relief efforts in 1991 to typhoon-stricken Bangladesh, the organization has provided relief for numerous victims of natural disasters,
including those victimized in the Malaysian floods, the California wildfires, Hurricane Katrina, and the Indonesian earthquake, to name a few. Not
only do they provide monetary relief, but they also encourage independence for disaster victims by involving them in the rebuilding of their
communities.
Dubbed a "volunteer-based, spiritual as well as welfare organization," Tzu Chi focuses its work in the field of charity, medicine, education,
environmental protection, and the promotion of humanistic values and community volunteerism. In the end, they hope to inspire a "global village
of Great Love."
It is the firm belief of Tzu Chi founder, Master Cheng Yen, that worldwide suffering is the result of material deprivation and spiritual poverty. The
organization works to create a greater sense of compassion among the whole global community. Master Cheng Yen has said: "To save the world, we
must begin by transforming human hearts."
Chu modestly acknowledges that the Madison Tzu Chi chapter is very small in comparison to its international parent. But, in the end, it is all the
soldiers of compassion who contribute to a better world.
To learn more about Tzu Chi, visit www.tzuchi.org. To volunteer or donate aluminum cans to support the local Tzu Chi chapter contact Yu-Lien at
(608) 268-7692 or yulienchu@hotmail.com. Visit www.tzuchi.org.
Laura Salinger is a
freelance writer based
in Madison.
freelance writer based
in Madison.
(From top) Yu-Lien Chu's husband, Joydeb, at the recycling
center; A group picture for a meal serving activity at
Salvation Army to homeless people on Oct. 14, 2007
center; A group picture for a meal serving activity at
Salvation Army to homeless people on Oct. 14, 2007
country, before deciding to pursue a second master's degree in environmental
science from UW-Madison. She met her husband while interning at Wisconsin's
Department of Natural Resources. She currently works at a private
environmental firm and heads up the local Madison chapter of the Tzu Chi
Foundation.
Although a much smaller version of the Taiwanese nonprofit, the premise of
the Madison chapter is the same as its parent organization.
"Through simple actions, you can help people," Chu said.
Tzu Chi in Madison has around 30-40 members and volunteers who contribute
to both the local community as well as the global community. They have
provided meals to low-income families at the Salvation Army and to older
adults at local senior centers. They provide gift distributions to Madison's
homeless and emergency charity donations to families in need. Last year, Tzu
Chi-Madison recruited UW-Madison students to help tutor students, mainly new
Hmong refugees, on Madison's north side. After the California wildfires, Tzu Chi
volunteers hit the streets to collect money for those victimized by the fire.
The group is also trying to grow their recycling program — one of the main
ways the organization raises money. They simply collect aluminum cans and
convert litter into cash. The cash is then used for charity work. Chu describes it
as a win-win. Not only does the program get rid of litter that would eventually
make its way to a landfill, but it also raises money for those in need.
science from UW-Madison. She met her husband while interning at Wisconsin's
Department of Natural Resources. She currently works at a private
environmental firm and heads up the local Madison chapter of the Tzu Chi
Foundation.
Although a much smaller version of the Taiwanese nonprofit, the premise of
the Madison chapter is the same as its parent organization.
"Through simple actions, you can help people," Chu said.
Tzu Chi in Madison has around 30-40 members and volunteers who contribute
to both the local community as well as the global community. They have
provided meals to low-income families at the Salvation Army and to older
adults at local senior centers. They provide gift distributions to Madison's
homeless and emergency charity donations to families in need. Last year, Tzu
Chi-Madison recruited UW-Madison students to help tutor students, mainly new
Hmong refugees, on Madison's north side. After the California wildfires, Tzu Chi
volunteers hit the streets to collect money for those victimized by the fire.
The group is also trying to grow their recycling program — one of the main
ways the organization raises money. They simply collect aluminum cans and
convert litter into cash. The cash is then used for charity work. Chu describes it
as a win-win. Not only does the program get rid of litter that would eventually
make its way to a landfill, but it also raises money for those in need.