What is the "Charity Haircut" program in Zimbabwe, and how did it start? Here is the story.

No Money, No Water

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Africa with rich deposits of gold, silver, and nickel, and abundant agricultural products. However, since its independence in 1980, it has been plagued by political and financial instability and has suffered from decades of hyperinflation and extreme poverty. Scalp psoriasis is a common disease due to a lack of money and water for basic hygiene.

The cost of a haircut for ordinary people is between US$1 and 5,  equivalent to the price of a meal. Most poor families choose to use such a sum to fill their hungry stomachs instead of getting a haircut.

Even worse, Zimbabwe is short of water and living conditions are poor. Most people can only take simple showers; washing hair is a luxury they cannot afford. Without money for haircuts and no water to wash their hair, many children have been infected with scalp ringworm. Scalp ringworm is highly contagious; without money to buy medicine, these children have no chance of being cured.

Affinity

In 1995, Taiwanese businessman Tino Chu relocated from South Africa to Zimbabwe to run a clothing factory. He had the experience of being robbed by mobs and nearly lost everything. However, after reading Buddhist scriptures, he had a change of heart and decided to give to those in greater need instead of being robbed again. From then on, he began to perform charity in the local community. Later, he learned about Tzu Chi's global humanitarian efforts and expanded his giving in the name of Tzu Chi. He entered schools and discovered that many children had a common skin disease called tinea or ringworm, a common fungal infection of the skin.

How to solve tinea? As there was a lack of water to wash hair, Chu came up with the idea of shaving their heads. He procured razors, and generators, and made his own shaving caps. He then rallied hairdressers to form a team called "Charity Haircut". They went to schools and communities to give haircuts to children and residents, making them feel refreshed and renewed.

To address the issue of water scarcity, Chu devoted himself to building and repairing wells, so that the people of Zimbabwe could cultivate crops and have access to water for washing and drinking. However, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out unexpectedly. Due to concerns about the spread of the virus, the government implemented many restrictions, causing the hair-cutting program to be suspended.

Poor Tanya

During the suspension period, a heartbreaking incident occurred. A ten-year-old boy named Tanya from the Mhondoro district was punished by his teacher for having long hair. The teacher hit him ten times on each hand, causing him so much pain that he fainted from hunger and weakness that day. The school sent Tanya to a clinic for treatment and reported the incident to the police; the teacher was immediately arrested, and the case was sent to court. However, the injustice and fear Tanya experienced had already had a significant impact on him.

After hearing Tanya's story, Chu felt deeply saddened and decided to restart the charity hair-cutting program as soon as the pandemic subsided, in order to help children and the community. Local volunteers invited like-minded people from the district to join, and they received a warm response. They hoped to contribute to the program. Additionally, volunteers arranged for hair-cutting to take place at food distribution points, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Between October 2022 and February 2023, volunteers conducted eight charity haircuts in Domboshava, Ushewokunze, Epworth, Mhondoro, and Kanyemba. A total of 346 volunteers participated, and 9,236 people benefited.

When he arrived in the Mhondoro community, Chu immediately went to visit Tanya and his mother. Holding the child's small hand, Chu felt great heartache. "I can imagine the pain he must have felt when he was beaten!" He gave the mother and son living supplies; Tanya's timid face broke into a smile that had been missing for a long time.

Children like Tanya who suffer from poverty and cannot afford regular haircuts are, unfortunately, not unique. Throughout the country, similar incidents go unnoticed and unreported. Due to their financial plight, these children have no choice but to endure long hair and are punished by teachers for it. They feel helpless to express their grievance and have no choice but to bear the mistreatment.

Teaching Livelihood Skills for a Healthy Life

The community of Mundoło was one of the earliest to promote charity haircuts. Local volunteer Edwin has been working in the community for a long time, inviting many young people to join Tzu Chi. Every Saturday, they gather under a small grass shed to listen to Buddhist teachings. Sometimes, the volunteers hold community events under the trees. They do not mind being under the sky, on the ground, and in the shade of the trees, because what they learn is invaluable.

Volunteers also teach children to use local resources to create art or make hats out of old clothes or empty rice bags. They hope that these creations can be sold to bring income to the children. They also teach them to make musical instruments using empty plastic bottles and encourage them to compose songs about love and peace. Volunteers use locally available materials to organize activities such as sack races; they incorporate education into fun and games. All these activities aim to encourage children to learn practical skills, live a healthy and positive lifestyle, and avoid drug abuse, bad habits, and early marriage.

The children learned to convey how Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi, inspired volunteers to care for patients through drama performances. The play presented how Tzu Chi volunteers changed the community through its activities. Everyone was touched by the seeds of love planted in the children's hearts. After the activity, Chu shared with the children the Buddhist teachings he learned from the volunteers, and the spirit of the great love he acquired. They inspire everyone to become people who give to others and are courageous in serving the community.

Before giving haircuts, the volunteers also play games with the children, creating happy moments. This is especially valuable for children who only have the opportunity to interact with their grandparents on a daily basis. Children learn and grow through different interactions; positive influences can lead to a good mentality and a gentle way of speaking. The volunteers continue to provide vegetarian meals to the children; after school, they can go to a designated location in the village to have their meals. Before receiving their vegetarian meals, they sing and recite the "Song of Offering."

Helping Those in Need

Sitting on the ground are also children from the suburbs who had their hair cut by volunteers on-site in the open air. Since haircuts require standing for a long time, it is a challenge for elderly volunteers and those with leg problems; they need the help of young people. Inspired by the event, many young people joined the haircut team to help the children with their hearts. "I cannot be absent when doing good, and I cannot be present when doing bad." Marshall Bvuma, a young volunteer in his twenties, said he was grateful that he could use his abilities to help children in need.

After the haircut, the volunteers help the children spray methylated spirit on their wounds and cuts to prevent infection and promote healing. The charitable haircutting has had significant results; less than a month later, the community invited the volunteers back to help the children with their haircuts. As usual, the volunteers received a warm response from the community, which moved them deeply. Seeing the children's scalps after their haircuts, the volunteers felt heartbroken as they were covered with severe dandruff and psoriasis. However, after the haircuts, the children could wash their hair and heal their wounds.

Master Cheng Yen once said: "Do not let shadows cloud your heart, radiate light, and warmth, so that life has meaning." The elderly grandmother in the community showed her expertise in teaching children how to knit sweaters and blankets. Chu also donated weaving equipment to villagers who were willing to learn, hoping to help them acquire a skill. He is grateful that so many young people are willing to participate in charity haircuts and that the elderly are willing to selflessly contribute. This gives more and more hope to the local community.

Before entering Nyamande primary school, the volunteers asked the school to collect signed consent forms from parents to protect the children's rights. During busy periods, the volunteers had to pause the haircuts to prevent the generator from overheating. Despite the delay, the volunteers remained focused on their work. Everyone was happy to see the children's dignified and joyful looks after receiving their haircuts. At the end of the day, they cleaned up the work area together.

During the pandemic, Chu was infected with COVID-19 and had to wear a respirator. He was determined to survive and help the people in Zimbabwe who are suffering. Thanks to his strong determination, he gradually recovered and was able to leave the hospital without the respirator.

Through this experience, Chu realized the value of life and pledged to help those in need. Love in Zimbabwe shines brightly from Chu to the young volunteers, children, and elderly grandmothers. It brings light to the future and shines on humanity.

A Jing Si Aphorism says: “Count me in when doing good deeds; count me out when doing bad deeds.”

Join Tzu Chi. Let us do good deeds together.

Story by Her Kai-xin, Lin Jing-ni, and Zhu Xiu-lian from Zimbabwe