The world of Tzu Chi October 2020 (Vol.127)

TZU CHI 127 25 on the meagre income from her odd jobs and financial assistance from the church, Rebeca barely scraped by and struggled to educate her children. She was disheartened and once contemplated suicide. Fortunately, she hung on. Such stories are common in Mozambique, a patriarchal country. Rebeca is only one of the many women with similar experiences. When asked, “Whose family is without a husband?” almost every local female Tzu Chi volunteer raised their hands. The older generation experienced civil war and most women ended up as widowed wives and had to bring up their children single-handedly. Besides, many volunteers have also experienced domestic violence or abandonment by their husbands. Thus, they had to raise their children themselves. Living with gender inequality From the moment they were born, Mozambican females faced unfair treatment. Statistics from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) revealed that only 46% of girls completed primary education, with only 22% continuing into secondary school. Therefore, as many as 56% of Mozambican females are illiterate, with upwards of 70% in rural areas. A girl’s duty is generally to get married and bear children. Therefore, it is common for girls under 18 to marry and become mothers. Those without an education are often abused by their husbands. Volunteer Denise Tsai observed, “Helping a Mozambican woman can help several families. But, if you hand over supplies to a man, you may harm several families.” This illustrates the rough lives of Mozambican women. One evening in 2012, Denise received a distress call. It turned out that Rebeca was abused by her husband. Denise immediately drove to Rebeca’s. Facing a domestic violence case for the first time, Denise, with her wisdom, first praised the husband for having a literate wife, who helped Tzu Chi with record keeping. Then, she thanked him for letting his wife contribute to the community. After calming the husband’s emotions, she shared with Rebeca the qualities of “gratitude, respect and love” taught by the Master. She advised Rebeca to start with herself, change her attitude towards her husband, develop pleasant manners and speech, and learn to express gratitude and love. Rebeca recalled that whenever her husband scolded her, she would retort; whenever her husband beat her, she would fight back. After hearing the Master’s teaching, she started to change. Unexpectedly, her husband stopped being violent towards her. He became proud of her contribution and encouraged her to continue her voluntary services. During home visits, Rebeca witnessed people with much bitter and poorer life than herself. This slowly opened her heart. She went from a care recipient to a Tzu Chi volunteer who gives out aid. When she learnt to care for others, her attitude towards life also changed positively. Nowadays, Rebeca gleams with confidence and carries bright smiles. Amidst the pandemic, she would bravely promote health education to communities. When asked if she was afraid of getting infected, she replied, “No, as long as I take good care of myself, I can take care of others.” Her simple reply showed her wisdom and compassion, reflecting her fearlessness. Many women in Mozambique live a hard life, but their fortitude is unmatched. Tzu Chi volunteers like Rebeca could bravely move on from the shadow of their miserable past, while taking care of their family, the entire community, and spreading love all around. Transforming Africa With Love