{"id":323889,"date":"2024-11-20T17:18:02","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T09:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tzuchiculture.org\/?p=323889"},"modified":"2025-12-03T15:06:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T07:06:00","slug":"sowing-seeds-of-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/tzu-chi-monthly\/sowing-seeds-of-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Sowing Seeds of Change"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some indigenous farmers in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, the Philippines, now have more steady income thanks to Tzu Chi Davao’s initiative.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Residents of Santo Ni\u00f1o, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, joined Tzu Chi’s agricultural poverty alleviation project. With the assistance of volunteers, they implemented an economic model that has improved their living conditions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“I am not the only one experiencing joy here. All the families who have planted banana trees are happy too,” said Eric Parcon, who, along with fellow farmers, was harvesting banana bunches in Santo Ni\u00f1o, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, in the Philippines’ Davao Region. Tzu Chi volunteers from Davao and Manila joined them, promptly purchasing their harvests and providing them with immediate earnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eric and the other farmers couldn’t have imagined this scenario before 2022. That year, he and 40 other families from the Ata Manobo tribe began participating in Tzu Chi’s banana planting livelihood project in Talaingod. Prior to that, Eric relied solely on planting corn and abaca. These crops took 4 and 12 months, respectively, to harvest. Unfortunately, he could only get around 10,000 pesos (US$170) for corn and 8,000 pesos (US$137) for abaca. This equated to a total income of 38,000 pesos (US$650) per year, or approximately 3,000 pesos (US$52) per month. This was a paltry sum, especially for a young father of three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was truly insufficient,” remarked Armando Dusonan Jr., Eric’s brother-in-law and a fellow farmer. The meager income from their harvests every four months only allowed them to enjoy rice\u2014a luxury for them\u2014for a brief week. After that, they would revert to their customary routine of eating only once a day, mostly relying on cassava.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food wasn’t the only challenge in their community. Living in a remote rural area, they also faced difficulties accessing electricity, information, and medical care. “Whenever our children fell ill, we couldn’t afford a trip to the hospital due to financial constraints,” said Armando. “Our earnings weren’t even enough to meet our daily needs.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a transformation has taken place for Armando, Eric, and their community since Tzu Chi’s banana planting livelihood project in Talaingod began to show results. In the summer of 2023, the banana seedlings they planted 19 months earlier started providing them with a consistent harvest of new fruit every two weeks, eliminating the months of waiting for income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ve seen the improvement in their lives ever since, and it genuinely warms my heart,” said Ariel Garao, the volunteer in charge of the project. “What’s beautiful about this project is its sustainability as long as they continue to work on it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tzu Chi volunteers in Davao started working with the indigenous peoples of Talaingod when the pandemic started in 2020. They saw how difficult the lives of the Ata Manobo were and recognized their need for assistance. In response, they distributed rice and other groceries in Talaingod to help residents through the pandemic. They later followed up with the banana planting project, providing seedlings, organic fertilizers, and technical expertise. Although the banana plants grew more slowly due to the use of organic fertilizers and sustainable farming practices, the quality and quantity of the fruit were exceptional. By August 2023, the trees were heavily laden with fruit, and new shoots began to emerge after harvesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Eric Parcon’s family, the banana planting project has alleviated some of the challenges of their poverty-stricken life. “Compared with eating only once a day before, we can now enjoy three meals a day with rice and viand,” he shared. “We also get to savor our banana produce. It’s truly delicious!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, their community now has electricity, and Eric was able to purchase a TV, providing them with access to news and information, as well as a bit of entertainment. “After a tiring day, it’s nice to watch TV with my family and unwind,” he said, smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He proudly mentioned that he can now give some money to his children when asked for candy. “As a father, it pained me when I couldn’t provide for them,” he said, teary-eyed. “But now, even if it’s just for candy, I feel so happy when I see their joy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a steady income from banana harvests, Eric and Armando were able to acquire a motorcycle through monthly installments, improving transportation to the market where they sell and buy goods for their families. “Previously, we had to walk for six hours to reach the market. Now, it takes us only half an hour,” said Armando, with a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armando can also now provide an allowance to his young children for school. “Before, they would go to school with nothing. Now, I can give them five pesos, and they’re ecstatic,” he exclaimed. “That makes me happy as well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armando holds one dream for his children\u2014to receive a good education and lead better lives in the future. “I will continue to plant bananas for them to finish school,” he affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tzu Chi’s Livelihood Improvement Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Indonesia: Great Love Mobile Noodle Stall Lending Program for small vendors.
\u25cf The Philippines: Training in dental assistance, business marketing, welding, computer repair, and customer service English. Tricycles and driver training for Typhoon Haiyan survivors.
\u25cf Nepal, India, South Africa, and Myanmar: Sewing classes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Timoteo Dicen survived a vehicular accident in 2020 but lost his wife and his right leg. Four years later, he met Tzu Chi volunteers who helped bring clarity to his eyes and assisted him in receiving a prosthetic leg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":323221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

Sierra Leone, one of the world's poorest nations, has seen a decade of collaboration between Tzu Chi and three nonprofit partners to aid the poor and vulnerable. Now, the focus is shifting toward self-sufficiency.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volunteers from Tzu Chi's partner organizations in Sierra Leone lay stones over a muddy road to make it passable. In 2024, while delivering rice to the southeastern region, they encountered impassable roads due to heavy rain and had to find ways to continue their journey. (Courtesy of Tzu Chi Hualien headquarters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Passengers made their way to immigration after their plane touched down at Freetown International Airport in Sierra Leone. Among them was Tzu Chi USA volunteer Debra Boudreaux (\u66fe\u6148\u6167), who noted the airport's fully computerized systems, electric baggage carousels, and jet bridges. Such features are standard at most modern airports but a clear sign of progress compared to what she had seen on earlier visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She recalled that during her first trip in 2016, the airport had no jet bridges and luggage was handled manually. Conditions beyond the airport also appeared underdeveloped. What struck her most on this visit, in February 2025, six years after her last in 2019, were the visible signs of development. \"Many new buildings were going up,\" she said. \"Nights were no longer pitch black but lit with lights, and local markets bustled with diverse activity. There has been progress in every aspect of daily life\u2014food, clothing, housing, transportation, agriculture, and commerce. It may be slow, but it is real and visible.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tzu Chi began its work in Sierra Leone in March 2015, responding to the Ebola outbreak by providing support to orphans, women, and people with disabilities. That effort sparked a decade-long partnership with local charitable organizations and sustained aid to various institutions. Today, Tzu Chi maintains an office in the country, with staff representing the foundation in government meetings and emergency relief efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2025, Johan Alwall (\u6b50\u53cb\u6db5) and Chu Yu-jia (\u891a\u4e8e\u5609) from Tzu Chi's headquarters in Taiwan traveled over 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) to join Debra Boudreaux for a 15-day visit. Together, they met with local organizations and partners to reflect on the past ten years' work and plan for future collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Koindu<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tzu Chi's connection to Sierra Leone can be traced back to Koindu, an agricultural town in the eastern part of the country, near the Liberian and Guinean borders. Koindu was one of the first areas in the nation affected by the 2013 Ebola outbreak, which ultimately claimed more than 10,000 lives across the three countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virus spread rapidly in Sierra Leone, exacerbated by a weak public health system, the practice of family members caring for the sick, and traditional customs such as washing the deceased. The country recorded the highest number of infections among the three nations. Thousands of children lost their parents, and fear of the highly lethal disease led to the stigmatization and rejection of survivors and victims' families by their own communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Tzu Chi began working with Caritas Freetown and the Healey International Relief Foundation to distribute food, tableware, beds, blankets, and other supplies. The Lanyi Foundation joined in 2016. Each year, Tzu Chi applies to Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture (formerly the Council of Agriculture) for humanitarian rice aid. Some of the rice is shipped to Sierra Leone for distribution, along with multigrain powder provided by the monastics at the Jing Si Abode, the Buddhist convent founded by Master Cheng Yen that also serves as the headquarters of Tzu Chi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koindu is about a five-hour drive from Freetown, including 52 kilometers (32 miles) of rough dirt roads that are difficult to navigate, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and especially during the rainy season. In September 2024, when a Caritas team delivered aid there, their truck became stuck, stranding them there for three days. They ended up relying on motorcycles from nearby villages to transport the supplies.
During their drive to Koindu on this trip, the visiting Tzu Chi team noted clear signs of change. Infrastructure improvements tied to China's Belt and Road Initiative were helping connect villages with better roads. Roadside vendors remained a familiar sight as they reached the outskirts of Koindu, but new additions included a police station and a mosque. Solar panels of various sizes dotted the landscape, providing electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a Saturday, so children were not in school. Some played outside their thatched homes, while others helped their parents with chores. Goats roamed freely along dirt paths. Women gathered to weave crafts or mix sand and soil to make bricks, preparing to expand their homes. Nearby, a group of mechanics repaired motorcycles\u2014the community's primary mode of transport. These scenes reflected signs of economic recovery in the impoverished village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Koindu has nine public schools, many children orphaned by Ebola still face discrimination and are denied access to education. \"What moved me most was Auntie Mary [Mary Sesay],\" said Debra Boudreaux. \"She founded an orphanage and a primary school to help these children rejoin society. Tzu Chi has supported the school since 2016 with rice and multigrain powder. The children are much healthier now.\"
Johan Alwall added that many orphans had been abandoned on the streets. Auntie Mary took it upon herself to find and care for them, ensuring they were fed and clothed, and placing them with foster families. Later, she even provided land for the construction of a school, which was named Smile With Us Primary School. During the team's visit, lessons written on the blackboard showed the students were receiving a solid education. One or two students were even pursuing university admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Victoria, a teacher at the school, is an Ebola survivor. Though she recovered physically, the trauma remains. Grateful for Tzu Chi's years of support, she became a volunteer. In 2018, she traveled to Taiwan and met Master Cheng Yen in person. She continues to carry the Master's words in her heart and does her best to serve her community. She hopes the villagers will cherish and make good use of the support they've received from Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mobilized by Tzu Chi, Caritas, the Healey Foundation, and the Lanyi Foundation, residents in Kroo Bay clean up their community following flooding in August 2023. (Courtesy of Tzu Chi Hualien headquarters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1213,1215],"tags":[1219,1221],"dipi_cpt_category":[],"class_list":["post-323889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tzu-chi-monthly","category-tc2024","tag-1219","tag-tzu-chi-monthly"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=323889"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323889\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":324189,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323889\/revisions\/324189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/323221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=323889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=323889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=323889"},{"taxonomy":"dipi_cpt_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.daaimobile.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dipi_cpt_category?post=323889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}