A Mission of Compassion
Over 2,500 years ago, the Buddha taught the Dharma to relieve suffering. Today, Tzu Chi volunteers continue that mission by returning to the Buddha’s homeland—Lumbini in Nepal, where he was born, and Bodh Gaya in India, where he attained enlightenment. Despite their spiritual significance, these areas still face deep poverty, with many lacking basic necessities like food, education, and medical care.
Moved by this reality, Master Cheng Yen called for sustained compassion and action. “It has been my long-held aspiration to give back to the birthplace of the Buddha. The pervasive poverty in the region calls for compassionate people to plant seeds of goodness and bring about change,” she said. Since April 2022, Tzu Chi volunteers from Singapore and Malaysia have been on the ground, offering care through education, healthcare, and livelihood training. (read more)
Beyond Survival: A Path to Dignity and Self-Reliance
In communities facing deep poverty, the challenges of daily survival are constant. To meet these urgent needs, Tzu Chi provides timely assistance—ranging from financial aid and material distributions to cash-for-work programs that offer both relief and dignity.
In Bodh Gaya, Gaina Manjhi once sustained himself by begging at tourist spots. With support from Tzu Chi, he began earning a living by selling handcrafted Buddha statues. Over time, he became more than a care recipient—he now helps guide Tzu Chi volunteers through his village, connecting others to the support that once changed his own life. (read more)
LEFT: Instead of begging, Gaina Manjhi (right) now sells Buddha statues outside the Sujata Temple to make a living. The statues are supplied by Malaysian volunteer Sio Kee Hong (蘇祈逢) (center). | India | 2024/03/18 RIGHT: At Silaunja Great Love Village in Bodh Gaya, India, residents participated in a mat-making workshop. Gaina Manjhi (left) helps by borrowing a sewing machine. | India | 2024/11/13
In both India and Nepal, essential supplies are distributed when families need them most. During the harsh winter months, Tzu Chi volunteers provided blankets to 98 households in the villages of Ganga Bigha and Rattibigha, helping families stay warm and feel cared for. These small gestures carry great meaning—offering comfort and showing that no one is left to face hardship alone.
LEFT: Volunteer Azim Khan (left) hands a blanket to a resident of Ganga Bigha village. | India | 2024/01/18 RIGHT: To help families prepare for the cold winter, volunteer Willy Ang (洪德謙 )(left) respectfully offers a blanket to Balmati Kurmi at her home in Kapilvaastu. | Nepal | 2024/11/21
Lighting the Way for the Next Generation
While poverty relief addresses urgent needs, Tzu Chi believes education is the fundamental solution to long-term change. Volunteers go door-to-door to visit families, encouraging children who had dropped out to return to school. After more than a year of consistent care, changes have begun to take root—in classrooms, homes, and hearts.
Children now participate in parent-child sports events, Jing Si aphorism lessons, and health education on handwashing, brushing teeth, and using utensils. Teachers notice subtle yet uplifting shifts in how parents, students, and educators interact—showing that transformation often begins with the smallest changes in daily life.
In ten schools across Bodh Gaya, students learn principles like kindness, gratitude, and responsibility—transforming behaviors in small but meaningful ways. Students tidy their uniforms, clean their classrooms, and speak more respectfully.
LEFT: During a tea ceremony at Senani School, teacher Abhishek Kumar (front right) teaches students the universal value of being "grateful always, everywhere, to everyone, and for everything" in English and Hindi. | India | 2023/07/04 RIGHT: After the parent-teacher orientation, every child in the Ganga Bigha tutoring class is given notebooks for English, Math, and Humanities, equipping them for the lessons ahead. | India | 2025/04/12
In Lumbini, Nepal, Siddhartha School has seen a remarkable turnaround. Tzu Chi helped restore classrooms, hire additional teachers, and launch daily life-skills lessons. A new school building is underway, which will include a library and computer rooms. “We used to struggle just to run the school,” said Principal Altaf Husen Khan. “Now, our children have a future to look forward to.”
LEFT: In a humble act of gratitude, children kneel to wash their parents' feet during a parent-child activity. RIGHT: With 'balloon babies' tied to their waists, children clean, sort recyclables, and tidy up, gaining a small glimpse into the daily challenges their mothers face. | Kapilvastu, Nepal | 2025/03/15
Healing with Heart
In many villages across India and Nepal, limited access to healthcare puts lives at risk. Tzu Chi addresses these challenges through targeted healthcare initiatives to improve access, preventive screenings, and community education.
One of the first cases in Bodh Gaya was Samphul Devi, a stroke survivor. Volunteers visited her regularly, brought supplies and comfort, and supported her until her peaceful passing—ensuring dignity through her final days.
Mithun Kumar, a young burn victim, returned to school after undergoing surgeries funded by Tzu Chi. Watching videos of Master Cheng Yen, he now dreams of helping others just as he was helped.
LEFT: Volunteer Choon-Chow Tang (陳春早) (right) gently combs the hair of Samphul Devi (left), offering a moment of comfort and care during the first visit to her home. | India | 2023/03/29 RIGHT: Mithun Kumar (center), a student from Niranjana Public Welfare School, listens intently with his mother. The story reinforced his dream of one day helping others. | India | 2024/03/15
Since March 2023, systematic health checkups have been held in nine Indian villages, reaching monks, teachers, and hundreds of residents. Screenings include BMI, blood pressure, and urine tests, with nutrition supplements and referrals provided as needed. (read more)
On October 19, 2024, volunteers along with the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) medical volunteers, held its first large-scale free clinic in Jagdishpur Village in India. Over 2,600 villagers received care from teams offering both Chinese and Western medicine. Alongside treatment, volunteers promoted hygiene, vegetarianism, and alcohol prevention through engaging education sessions. In Nepal, bi-weekly checkups at the Tzu Chi Community Center in Mahadeva Village serve villagers and tuk-tuk drivers, supported by local healthcare teams.
LEFT: During a community health check in Bodh Gaya, Tzu Chi volunteers assist with screenings, part of the ongoing effort to build trust and provide care in the village. | India | 2023/09/21 RIGHT: Pulmonologist Dr. Mohan Kumar Prasad (right) examines a 95-year-old patient at the free clinic. | Nepal | 2025/03/22
Tzu Chi also addresses widespread alcohol addiction through education, home visits, and its “Tea Instead of Alcohol” initiative, which encourages villagers to quit drinking by replacing alcohol with masala tea.
LEFT: Volunteer nurse Kim Yan Lim (林金燕 )(right) and local volunteer Manish Kumar (left) use images to explain the harmful effects of alcohol on the liver during a home visit. | India | 2024/07/13 RIGHT: Surendra Manjhi (crouching, right), who has successfully quit drinking, shares his personal experience with fellow villagers, encouraging them to choose a healthier life. | India | 2024/06/06
Skills for a Brighter Future
One of Tzu Chi’s core missions is to help people become self-reliant. In both India and Nepal, vocational training programs are equipping individuals with practical skills—such as sewing, English, and computer literacy—to improve their livelihoods.
LEFT: The sewing class at the Tzu Chi Bodh Gaya Office empowers local women with skills to work from home, helping them achieve financial stability. | India | 2024/03/09 RIGHT: Sewing instructor Puja Khadka (center) guides a student during the advanced sewing class at the Lumbini Vocational Training Center. | Nepal | 2023/04/06
In Bodh Gaya, India, Rinkyi Yadav left school at 16 and joined Tzu Chi’s very first sewing class without any prior experience. Through persistence and support, she gradually developed her skills and eventually became an instructor. Today, her income helps support her family—transforming her journey from dependence to empowerment. These sewing classes have become safe spaces for women, helping them gain confidence and break free from restrictive social norms. (read more)
In Lumbini, Nepal, women were initially trained to sew clothing for personal use. The program then expanded to include reusable cloth sanitary pads and knitting hats, creating both income opportunities and better hygiene awareness. To ensure ongoing employment after training, Tzu Chi helped establish three community-run sewing workshops where graduates now take on contract work—including making school uniforms. (read more)
To further support their professional development, nine graduates are preparing to take Nepal’s national vocational certification exam. Those who pass will receive a sewing machine and essential tools to start their own home-based tailoring businesses.
LEFT: English classes in Bodh Gaya open a world of opportunity for local youth. RIGHT: Students practice one-on-one English conversation during a class at the Tzu Chi Bodh Gaya Office. | India | 2024/04/17
Meanwhile in India, Tzu Chi introduced computer and English classes to prepare young adults for the job market. Using refurbished laptops donated by Tzu Chi’s recycling centers in Taiwan, these courses are helping students gain valuable skills for careers in tourism, hospitality, and beyond.
Building with Compassion
In 2024, 36 families in Silaunja Village, India, moved into new brick homes built by Tzu Chi—replacing fragile mud huts that once let in wind and rain. Designed with local customs in mind, each house includes separate cooking areas, bathrooms, and bedrooms, offering a safe and dignified living space.
LEFT: The low entrance to Pyari Devi's home forced her to stoop down every time she went in or out. | India | 2024/10/08 RIGHT: Future resident of Great Love Home No. 6, Pyari Devi (center), shares a happy moment with volunteers during a home visit in Silaunja Village. | India | 2024/10/04
More than a construction project, the initiative empowered residents to take part in building their future. Local villagers were invited to join the construction team, gaining not only income but also valuable skills.
With support and encouragement from Tzu Chi volunteers, residents have taken ownership of their new environment—keeping their homes tidy, maintaining clean drainage systems, and participating in gardening workshops to plant flowers and greenery around their homes.
LEFT: Students at Siddhartha Primary School take part in a classroom cleaning activity, learning the value of maintaining a tidy learning environment. | Nepal | 2024/09/24 RIGHT: Students from four local schools perform a sign language interpretation of "A Hopeful Future" during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Siddhartha Primary School building. | Nepal | 2024/11/05
In Lumbini, Nepal, construction is also paving the way for a better future. A new building for Siddhartha School broke ground in late 2024. With planned additions like a library, computer rooms, and expanded classrooms, the facility will provide a brighter learning environment for students and a hopeful symbol of long-term educational commitment.
Through “Giving Back to the Buddha’s Homeland”, Tzu Chi fosters sustainable change by combining compassion with practical support. From healthcare and education to livelihood training and housing, this work empowers people in Nepal and India to stand tall, give back, and build brighter futures.
