Compassion at Home

By Sophie X. Song

Published #62 | Fall 2021 Issue

In July, Tzu Chi Northwest relaunched its free clinic service in Milpitas, CA after its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo/Christina Chang

Tzu Chi Restarts Free Clinic Services

In July 2021, more than a month after California announced its reopening, medical volunteers from Tzu Chi USA’s Northwest Region relaunched their free clinic service at the Tzu Chi Milpitas Service Center, suspended for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first stage of reopening will be limited and small-scale, focused on serving Tzu Chi volunteers as a warm-up, with all procedures carried out according to pandemic safety regulations. Thus, the medical team will be well prepared when they serve the public at large soon.

After careful planning, Tzu Chi’s medical volunteers restart the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic at the Tzu Chi Milpitas Service Center on Monday, July 12. Photo/Pohan Chen — After careful planning, Tzu Chi’s medical volunteers restart the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic at the Tzu Chi Milpitas Service Center on Monday, July 12. *Photo/Pohan Chen*

Dr. Kevin Hwang, a specialist in spine neurology, alleviates his patients’ aches and pains by diagnosing diseases in the central nervous system. Photo/Christina Chang — Dr. Kevin Hwang, a specialist in spine neurology, alleviates his patients’ aches and pains by diagnosing diseases in the central nervous system. *Photo/Christina Chang*

Dr. Kevin Hwang learns his patients’ medical history during consultations before diagnosing and providing a course of treatment that supports their health and peace of mind. Photo/Christina Chang

Medical and general volunteers collaborate every step of the way to assure the best quality of care to the patients they serve. Photo/Christina Chang — Medical and general volunteers collaborate every step of the way to assure the best quality of care to the patients they serve. *Photo/Christina Chang*

Lan Krajcovic, recovering after a leg injury from a car accident, comes to Tzu Chi’s Milpitas Service Center to receive a Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment. Photo/Pohan Chen — Lan Krajcovic, recovering after a leg injury from a car accident, comes to Tzu Chi’s Milpitas Service Center to receive a Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment. *Photo/Pohan Chen*

Mike Liao, a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician, carefully checks his patient’s pulse before diagnosis and treatment. Photo/Pohan Chen — Mike Liao, a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician, carefully checks his patient’s pulse before diagnosis and treatment. *Photo/Pohan Chen*

Tzu Chi volunteers implement every safety measure while registering patients then providing consultation or treatment. Photo/Christina Chang — Tzu Chi volunteers implement every safety measure while registering patients then providing consultation or treatment. *Photo/Christina Chang*

A Tzu Chi medical volunteer measures a patient’s blood pressure in preparation for the consultation with a doctor that will follow. Photo/Pohan Chen — A Tzu Chi medical volunteer measures a patient’s blood pressure in preparation for the consultation with a doctor that will follow. *Photo/Pohan Chen*

Tzu Chi Taiwan Headquarters Hosts an Intensive Leadership Training Camp

The much anticipated Global Four-in-One Intensive Leadership Training Camp offered by Tzu Chi Taiwan was held online from July 30 to August 1, 2021. The camp brought together more than 20,000 locations from all over the world, with more than 1,000 Tzu Chi volunteers and members participating in the online training course.

Tzu Chi volunteers from the Los Angeles area gather at Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters during the leadership training camp to study and practice together. Photo/Shu Li lo — Tzu Chi volunteers from the Los Angeles area gather at Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters during the leadership training camp to study and practice together. *Photo/Shu Li lo*

Jackson Chen, CEO of Tzu Chi USA, encourages all the participants to continue studying and improving after the event. Photo/Yong Zhong Zeng — Jackson Chen, CEO of Tzu Chi USA, encourages all the participants to continue studying and improving after the event. *Photo/Yong Zhong Zeng*

Volunteer Wei Lixing shares his experience on Zoom. Photo/Shu Li Lo — Volunteer Wei Lixing shares his experience on Zoom. *Photo/Shu Li Lo*

Volunteers from the Los Angeles area take advantage of breaks to participate in a series of fun activities that draw the group together. Photo/Shu Li Lo — Volunteers from the Los Angeles area take advantage of breaks to participate in a series of fun activities that draw the group together. *Photo/Shu Li Lo*

Volunteer Lu Xingzi listens to the lectures on her smartphone and praises the hard work and dedication of Tzu Chi volunteers in Africa. Photo/Shu Li Lo — Volunteer Lu Xingzi listens to the lectures on her smartphone and praises the hard work and dedication of Tzu Chi volunteers in Africa. *Photo/Shu Li Lo*

The camp participants study together diligently and share personal experiences during breaks. Photo/Shu Li Lo — The camp participants study together diligently and share personal experiences during breaks. *Photo/Shu Li Lo*

Tzu Chi USA’s Character Education Summer Camp Teaches Children Not to Waste Food

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, children in the U.S. studied remotely from home and didn’t go to school. Fortunately, after more than a year, as the pandemic began to wane, students could attend Tzu Chi’s 2021 summer camp in Walnut, California. Tzu Chi’s character education team designed various activities for these students, including a special class that taught them the importance of not wasting food. Teachers helped students learn that their relatively comfortable and prosperous life was a special gift that not everyone in the world was fortunate enough to receive. Therefore, they must learn to cherish food, not waste it, and do their best to help people who don’t have enough to eat every day.