Registration at the Soweto Home for the Blind
On the 16th May 2015, Tzu Chi volunteers gathered in the early hours of the day to prepare for the registration and distribution taking place at the Home for the Blind in Soweto, a project in Gauteng that has been maintained by Tzu Chi for more than 8 years.
- by Joanne Lan -
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| Photo by: Ken Tsai |
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| Photo by: Ken Tsai |
This particular visit to the Home for the Blind, marked the establishment of a new registration system whereby each aid recipient would receive an individual QR code and number that would be linked to their photo and personal details stored on a database; this system would assist in determining quotas and maintaining organization during future distributions.
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| Photo by: Ken Tsai |
The Tzu Chi volunteers sprang into action by first dividing the aid recipients into two groups (new recipients and those that had already registered previously), then having stations established for each individual's registration process. Each volunteer had their own delegated duties, whether it was documenting the event, taking identification pictures of the aid recipients, undertaking the registration process, assisting with translations or leading the blind back to their seats; altogether, it was a joint effort in making the task at hand as smooth and swift as possible.
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| Photo by: Ken Tsai |
As with every visit to the Home for the Blind, before the distribution commences, the aid recipients, despite their disadvantaged circumstances, pull out their own pocket money to partake in a donation towards assisting Tzu Chi in helping others in need. At this particular visit, the aid recipients at the Home for the Blind sent their love to those devastated by the earthquake in Nepal.
The event concluded with a distribution of goods to the blind (consisting of two bags of rice, sugar beans, cooking oil and sugar) and smiles all round which, as always, gives us, Tzu Chi volunteers, a great sense of achievement.
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| Photo by: Ken Tsai |
