26 Aug 2015

People should learn to love and help others for love knows no boundaries and it’s a powerful weapon for change.

These are the words which were said by the director of Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Ms Jennifer Chen Tzu Yu recently when they donated more than 50 bags of rice from Taiwan to the elderly and the needy in Metsimotlhabe over the weekend. In an interview, Ms Yu said only through love they were able to change lives, nations and the world. 

She said Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation was founded by Master Chengyen in 1966, and that their greatest pillar was love. 

She also added that the foundation was spread throughout the world and they came to Metsimotlhabe to sow the seed of love. The foundation has been working with Carapparel Botswana, a company owned by Mr Sam Li to identify the needy in society.  Through their good deeds they have been able to help people, especially the elderly in Mmopane, Lobatse, Gakuto, Gaborone and Metsimotlhabe.

Ms Yu said it was important to give out of the abundance of the heart and not for political or self gain. She implored individuals and organisations to help the needy, elderly, orphans and people living with disability in communities and even outside the country. 

According to Ms Yu, the foundation helps people from across the world, Botswana included with education by offering scholarships, medicine, charity works and humanitarian aid.

When presenting the gifts, some of the elders who graced the event could not help to contain their excitement and ululated while others were jubilating.  One of them, Mr Olefile Sekgee said he could not be happier to have received the bag of rice. 

“I will have a decent meal today, thank you Taiwan Foundation,” he said He said what the Taiwanese have done to them was also a way of setting an example to people that there were people in need, not of money but love and their quality time. 

For Ms Tshwaranang Mokhuwe the gift came at the right time as she has been without food for weeks. The director of the foundation said people should let love lead and improve the lives of others for a better world. Ends