
In early April this year, three provinces of Ecuador were struck by heavy rain that caused extensive damage. A total of 200,000 people were affected, with the damage most severe in Manabi province. Because of contacts made during the earthquake relief last year, Tzu Chi immediately moved into action. This involved both local volunteers and also those from the United States and Argentina. They went to survey the damage in two districts in Manabi, Portoviejo and Santa Ana, where nearly 3,400 households were badly affected. They visited Fernando Cedeno, Mayor of Santa Ana, to discuss the details of the ‘Cash-for-Relief’ program, giving each participant US$15 (NT$450) relief fund a day.
The Mayor was moved by this act of love and expressed his happiness: “On April 7, Santa Ana and other districts were hit by torrential rain. Then the Tzu Chi volunteers telephoned me. Their spirit is to do good by helping other. The key is strength through unity, to provide help to those who need it.”

The heavy floods left mud and sludge everywhere, so that children could not go to school. On the first day of the program, the residents started to clean two schools and the roads around them. Through the joint efforts of everyone, they cleared a large amount of mud and sludge and made the school surroundings clean again. One local resident who took part wholeheartedly was Luis: “Here today, Tzu Chi has helped to clean up the school. We believe that unity is strength.”
Hong Liang-dai, a volunteer who came from Argentina, saw the happiness on the faces of the local residents. She said: “We are truly very happy that Tzu Chi could come here as quickly as possible and enable local people come together to clean their community.
Disasters have no feeling; but, among people, there is love. A natural disaster caused great damage; then Tzu Chi again brought together everyone’s energy. This brought the hope and strength of everyone to rebuild their home.
Newer news items:
- Tzu Chi Holds Distribution for 1,290 Households in Mexican City
- Tzu Chi Helps Survivors of Devastating Northern California Fires
- Tzu Chi Provides Aid for Harvey Flood Victims in Houston
- Tzu Chi Donates 300 Tonnes of Rice, 10,000 Shoes in Haiti
Older news items:
- Tzu Chi Brings Red Bean Rice to Hurricane Survivors in Haiti
- Tzu Chi Assesses the Damages Caused by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti
- Tzu Chi Built Homes to Flood Victims in Honduras
- Tzu Chi Takes Cash-for-Relief Program to Third City in Ecuador