Sharing Experiences in Environmental Conservation and Disaster Management

Journalist : Arimami Suryo A, Photographer : Arimami Suryo A

Liu Su Mei, The Chairman of the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, accompanied Ting Yu Yen, Deputy Director General Education Department, and members of educational teams from five Taiwanese cities as they toured the Tzu Chi School facilities, including the sports field.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, volunteers from the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation welcomed 21 people from the Chiayi District Government as well as educational teams from five Taiwanese cities. This group arrived to share their experiences in environmental conservation education and disaster management in Indonesia.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation Liu Su Mei, Chairman of the Tzu Chi Indonesia Emergency Response Team Joe Riadi, and other volunteers accompanied and invited the group to visit the Humanitarian Culture Exhibition Hall room, as a place to record the history of Tzu Chi Indonesia in carrying out its missions. Aside from that, the group was invited to tour the tea serving room, flower arrangement room, and Tzu Chi School building, which houses laboratory classrooms, sports rooms, libraries, canteens, and other school facilities.

Liu Su Mei explained that educational teams from five Taiwanese cities were visiting Tzu Chi Indonesia to share their experiences, and vice versa. Representatives from these five schools also maintain positive relationships with Tzu Chi Taiwan, particularly in the areas of environmental conservation and disaster management education. "They work well with Tzu Chi, and they also joined the Tzu Chi Teachers Association in Taiwan," said Liu Su Mei, the chairman.

Liu Su Mei, The Chairman of the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, received a certificate of appreciation from a disaster prevention education guide group in Chiayi, Taiwan.

The Chairman of the Tzu Chi Indonesia Emergency Response Team, Joe Riadi, was discussing with members of the education team from five cities in Taiwan the disaster assistance provided by Tzu Chi Indonesia.

Liu Su Mei stated in her presentation that Indonesia still has much to learn in terms of environmental conservation and disaster simulation. Taiwan has extensive experience that can be learned from. "What we need to learn from them is how Taiwan is very mature in implementing environmental conservation and disaster management education," Liu Su Mei stated.

A team of service volunteers served hot tea and snacks to the group in the Tzu Chi School's tea serving room. While enjoying hot tea, the group was shown a video depicting 30 years of Tzu Chi in Indonesia. They learned from this video that Tzu Chi, Indonesia, provided extensive disaster relief.

The Chiayi District Government and education teams from five Taiwanese cities learned from the video how Tzu Chi was able to respond quickly to a major disaster in Indonesia by distributing aid. "Including when the earthquake and tsunami disaster struck Aceh. At the time, there was a lot of love from Tzu Chi people all over the world who helped us make the construction of “Perumahan Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi“ in Aceh a success. "Therefore, Tzu Chi is a global organization that is like one family," Liu Su Mei said.

Chen Liang Mey, a volunteer who also teaches flower arranging classes, was explaining how the flower arranging class method applies to Tzu Chi School students.

Volunteers from the consumption team served hot tea and snacks to the Chiayi District Government and education teams from five Taiwanese cities during a group tour of the Tzu Chi Center in PIK.

Ting Yu Yen (Deputy Director, General Education Department) explained that the Chiayi District Government and education team's visit was primarily intended to share disaster management education experiences. Ting Yu Yen explained that disaster management has three stages: anticipation, active handling, and planning.

"When a disaster occurred, we could handle it actively, like Tzu Chi does; once a disaster occurs, Tzu Chi handles it well. After that, plans are carried out after a disaster occurs. "We see that Tzu Chi's Four Missions in Indonesia have been fully implemented, so we are very happy to be able to study here," said Ting Yu Yen.

Apart from that, Ting Yu Yen explained that in Chiayi City, Taiwan, there is a Tzu Chi Dalin hospital, and there is a junior high school building, which is also a donation from Tzu Chi. They also collaborate with PAGAMO to disseminate disaster management information through games. "We hope that in this way, information related to disaster management can be spread via the internet in various regions," explained Ting Yu Yen, who was very enthusiastic about seeing Tzu Chi's activities in Indonesia.

The chairman of the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Liu Su Mei, the chairman of the Tzu Chi Emergency Response Team, Joe Riadi, and the consumption team received souvenirs from the Chiayi Regency Government.

The chairman of the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and other volunteers posed for a photo with the Chiayi Regency Government group and educational teams from five Taiwanese cities in the Tzu Chi School lobby.

When Ting Yu Yen and his group visited the Tzu Chi School, they noticed that the elementary, middle, and high school buildings were similar to those in Taiwan. "We hope that through education, we can encourage children to pay more attention to everything that happens in society, both social matters and climate change. "Let the students think in the future about how humans can protect this earth," said Ting Yu Yen.

While touring the Jing Si Hall in the Humanitarian Culture Exhibition Hall, the group saw posters and video footage of Tzu Chi volunteer activities. "We were very moved to see that Shixiong and Shijie Tzu Chi were always present at disaster locations when disasters occurred; this is what we need to learn from Tzu Chi Indonesia," said Ting Yu Yen.

Aside from that, Ting Yu Yen was very impressed with Tzu Chi's educational mission, which focused on humanist culture and love between humans. "In the future, we will also try to develop a humanist culture," said Ting Yu Yen, smiling.

Translator: Atika (Tzu Chi School)

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July 16, 2024

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