The world of Tzu Chi February 2020 (Vol.119)

TZU CHI 119 41 lobal News Reported by Tzu Chi Documenting Team Translated by Translating Team Photographs provided by Tzu Chi Taiwan Headquarters For most of the Muslim-majority community of Kampong Cham, Kang Meas District who live on boats, all activities would have to cease by sundown. Tzu Chi volunteers delivered rice rations, solar panels and light bulbs to the locals to improve their quality of life upon learning of their plight. After distributing the lighting devices, the volunteers accompanied the locals to their boats to assist them with installing and testing the lighting contraption. A local commented, “Whenever we worked late into the evening, we had to fumble through dinner in the dark due to the lack of lighting. Now our boats are illuminated by solar energy.” Cambodia 2019.11.23 Illuminating the Lives of Boat People The wildfires raging across Australia – the worst the Land Down Under has ever seen in decades – have posed a major threat to not only its citizens, but also its wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole. New South Wales was the hardest hit, with bushfires tearing through the state since September 2019. Tzu Chi volunteers from Gold Coast managed to collect donations totalling AUD220,000 (approximately RM610,000), which were channelled towards a fire engine for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES). The Gold Coast-based volunteers were joined by volunteers from Brisbane in pasting a sticker of the Tzu Chi logo on the fire engine before presenting it to the QFES. The fire engine is capable of storing 1,600 litres of water and is equipped with a mechanism that dispenses firefighting foam. Australia 2020.01.10 Supporting Firefighting Efforts amidst Bushfire Season