UCTC360 No17 US TzuChing South Africa Part 2

Today, we continue with the second part of the trip the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youths, or Tzu Chings, made from the US to volunteer in South Africa. For many years, South Africa had been burdened with Apartheid, a legal racial segregation system that became defunct in 1994. But even though Apartheid has ended more than a decade ago, the South African government is still battling with poverty and social inequality. The annual Human Development Report commissioned by the United Nations also indicates that South Africa has one of the largest income disparities in the world, with more than 45% of the total population living below the poverty line. This great sense of helplessness was evident to the young volunteers, and they quickly realized how fortunate their lives are back home in the US.

In our next segment, Footprints, we introduce you to a young married couple, Peter Lin and Joanne Chang, who enjoy participating in Tzu Chi together, because they share common interests in Buddhism and volunteerism. Their love of helping others in need has taken them to three provinces in China, as well as Haiti, for international relief work. However, for Peter and Joanne, their most recent trip to South Africa was the experience of a lifetime. So let's now see why they consider the Zulu volunteers to be great teachers.

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Nonprofits & Activism

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