Congratulations to the Tzu Chi team in Jordan for welcoming two new certified volunteers, Khader Khalifeh (right) and Mohamed Khir Alriz (left). (Photo provided Tzu Chi Charity Foundation; Hualien, Taiwan; 2023/6/23)

In June this year, many Tzu Chi volunteers from overseas returned to Taiwan to receive certification. The Jing Si Hall in Hualien, Taiwan was filled with touching and heartwarming volunteer stories. One of them comes from Khader Khalifeh, who is from Jordan.

Striving Tirelessly for Self-Improvement

Khader Khalifeh, a 60-year-old retiree, was a dedicated teacher for 25 years in a public school. He also served as a Taekwondo coach for the national team for 21 years. He has known volunteer Chiou-hwa Chen for 38 years; he has been Chen’s student since he was 16 years old.

Khader's father was a Palestinian refugee who fled from Jerusalem in 1948; their family settled in Jordan. From a family of 10 children, Khader, the eldest, shouldered the responsibility of taking care of his younger siblings.

He shared his story: "When I was a child, I used to sell newspapers in the city center to make a living. During summer and winter breaks, I worked as a casual laborer on construction sites, carrying bricks and mixing cement to earn my own pocket money. As a teenager, I sold popsicles near the local elementary school. Therefore, I truly understand how people strive to survive under harsh conditions."

Before the certification ceremony, Tzu Chi volunteer Brother Chiou-hwa Chen from Jordan (far right) personally pinned a corsage on Brother Khader Khalifah (front left). (Photo by Hsiung Chou; Jing Si Hall, Hualien, Taiwan; June 23, 2023)

His educational journey was also challenging. It was only when he secured admission to a university that provided government subsidies for transport that he earned his bachelor's degree. After graduating, he was assigned by the government to teach in a public vocational school; he was also working as a coach at Chiou-hwa Chen's Taekwondo gym. Thanks to this, his life gradually improved. Chen was not only a mentor and friend to Coach Khader Khalifeh but also a father figure.

During their time at the gym, they started activities to assist the needy and alleviate poverty. Every student willingly participated in giving to charity. Each year during the month of fasting, they secretly helped underprivileged children purchase new clothes for the Lunar New Year. They also sponsored the tuition fees of outstanding students who could not afford to attend university; they provided emergency assistance to students and their families facing major crises. The compassion and empathy they showed came from these acts of kindness.

Seeking Solutions Far and Wide

With Chiou-hwa Chen taking over Tzu Chi in 1998 and launching its mission of compassion in rural areas of Jordan, Khader Khalifeh joined the footsteps of the joyful volunteers. Hence, his involvement with Tzu Chi's activities in Jordan spans over 20 years. He said: "Through participating in Tzu Chi's activities, I have learned from Master Cheng Yen (founder of Tzu Chi) how to be more compassionate towards others, empathize with them, and understand their difficulties."

Starting from July 11, 2021, Taekwondo classes were held twice a week, with each session lasting 2 hours. A total of 45 children participated in the classes. On the first day of the class, Chiou-hwa Chen (front and center) came to encourage and inspire the children. He emphasized the importance of dedication, discipline, and following the rules. He also mentioned that if the opportunity arises in the future, Taekwondo could be brought to Syria to flourish. Khader Khalifeh (front and right) was also present to assist. (Photo provided by Tzu Chi Charity Foundation; Amman, Jordan; 2021/07/11)

He continued: “Seeing people in extremely impoverished areas makes me grateful for my own life. I am willing to help more people and pass on the spirit of Tzu Chi and the teachings of Master Cheng Yen. We are grateful to Chiou-hwa Chen; he is our role model. We have learned so much from Master Cheng Yen and Chiou-hwa Chen, and we are truly thankful for Tzu Chi.”

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when Chiou-hwa Chen could not personally distribute relief aid due to work commitments, he entrusted Brother Abu Tamar and Brother Khader Khalifeh to find a police acquaintance who could help them obtain travel permits. They successfully carried out the mission of distributing pandemic relief aid during the nationwide lockdown. On one occasion, when Chiou-hwa Chen had to walk for three hours under the scorching sun to withdraw relief funds from the bank, Coach Khader Khalifeh was deeply moved. He wondered about the circumstances that led a 70-year-old to endure pain in his feet and be so concerned for the people of Jordan. This made Coach Khader Khalifeh want to learn more about Tzu Chi.

Spreading Hope and Compassion

In July 2021, Taekwondo classes were initiated at the Tzu Xin House, where Syrian single mothers and their children were being sheltered. This provided Coach Khader Khalifeh with more opportunities to participate in Tzu Chi's activities and interact with refugees.

During Tzu Chi's medical outreach in Mafraq, Khader Khalifeh (in grey uniform) seized the opportunity to serve the community. (Photo provided by Tzu Chi Charity Foundation; 2023/05/26)

In September 2021, the translation of the 60 Jing Si Aphorisms into Arabic was successfully completed, and the volunteer team taught five aphorisms to children in various locations in Jordan during every distribution. This not only touched the hearts of the recipient families with Tzu Chi's humanistic values but also allowed the volunteer team to understand that Tzu Chi is not just a Buddhist charity organization from a distant country, but a loving family with unconditional compassion that transcends race and religion. Tzu Chi's path of Bodhisattva works for the benefit of all beings and contains boundless wisdom. Therefore, in October 2021, Khader Khalifeh, with other volunteers, joined the training program.

After two years of training, the teams cooperated harmoniously and successfully completed one mission after another. They cultivated a heart of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity; they expressed gratitude, respect, and love to care for the suffering. Finally, in June 2023, they came to Taiwan to participate in the second overseas camp and receive certification. However, Mohamed Khir Alriz, another Tzu Chi volunteer from Jordan scheduled to receive certification, had to apply for a visa to return to Jordan. Unable to bear the thought of Mohamed Khir Alriz traveling alone, Khader Khalifeh volunteered to postpone his departure and accompany Mohamed Khir Alriz to Taiwan. Their journey involved a 48-hour flight from Amman, transiting through Bahrain, Singapore, and Thailand, before finally arriving in Taiwan. They were warmly welcomed by volunteer Huang Wu Guang in Taoyuan, who picked them up and directly took them to the Hualien camp.

Khader Khalifeh (middle) and Mohamed Khir Alriz (right) were warmly welcomed by volunteer Huang Wu Guang (left) in Taoyuan, who picked them up and directly took them to the Hualien camp. (Photo provided by Tzu Chi Charity Foundation; Taoyuan, Taiwan; 2023/6/21)

In Hualien, Brother Chiou-hwa and the Tzu Chi volunteers warmly welcomed these two dedicated volunteers who had traveled such a long distance. Everyone cherished this rare affinity and expressed gratitude for their presence. They had been caring for suffering beings in the distant deserts of Jordan on behalf of Master Cheng Yen. Inspired by their commitment, they made the arduous journey to learn and embody the spirit of Tzu Chi, in order to carry on its compassionate legacy.

A Jing Si Aphorism says: “Ｗhen we treat others with love and compassion, we will not stir up ill feelings, and we will be able to form good relationships with others.”

Join Tzu Chi. Let us live up to the value of our life.

Story by Lamiya Lin from Jordan