2023 Great Love 30

16 In the spirit of Great Love and deep respect for life, Tzu Chi offers sincere humanitarian aid and care to victims of disasters. With “directness, priority, respect, timeliness, practicality, and gratitude” as guiding principles, Tzu Chi volunteers are often the first to arrive and the last to leave in times of disasters. Through experiences, various disaster relief models have been developed. Cash-for-work: Leads disaster victims in cleaning up while providing them with daily wages. This fosters a spirit of mutual assistance and self-help, and buoys self- respect. Cash card: Offers recipients a safe and secure withdrawal at designated banks, and doubles as a commemorative item. The cash-for-work and cash card were first implemented in Malaysia during the major floods in December 2014. During the 2021 Klang Valley flood, Tzu Chi provided hot meals, coordinated cleanup efforts, and distributed relief funds, benefitting more than 40,000 recipients.