Rotary Atlantis and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation met at Grosvenor Primary School to expand ties with each other.
The meeting was made possible by Danny Pietersen, president of Rotary Atlantis, supported by club secretary Terence Adams when they met representatives of the Tzu Chi Foundation, led by Kenny Lee.
“Our goal is to help the poorest by promoting, medical, education, nutrition schemes and humanistic values in societies around the world,” Lee explained.
“The Tzu Chi Foundation hopes it will improve the lives of many citizens.
“With the outbreak of Covid-19, communities around the world were financially disadvantaged, and therefore we decided to contribute to Atlantis’ community in collaboration with Rotary Atlantis.”
In light of its mission Tzu-Chi Foundation confirmed they will provide 740 kg of rice per month to Rotary Atlantis.
This, Pietersen said, means that 23 soup kitchens, under the auspices of Rotary Atlantis, will receive rice for the next few months to provide to needy residents, in different parts of Atlantis.
Although the rice is a short-term project, Lee says, it would be reviewed after six months, with the possibility of a long-term project between the two organisations transpiring.
The Tsu Chi Foundation had its headquarters in Hualien, Taiwan, and operating for more than 54 years worldwide.
In SA it has supplied feeding schemes for more than 25 years from various branches, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Ladysmith.
More than 10 million residents worldwide benefit from the organisation assistance and training services.
“I am very delighted with the agreement between Rotary and Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation South Africa,” Pietersen said.
“This partnership is fantastic news for Rotary Atlantis and the greater Atlantis.
“The club is also negotiating with other organisations to donate other products to the 23 soup kitchens.”
Lee, in return, thanked Pietersen and Rotary Atlantis for the excellent work it is doing to improve the conditions of communities, saying he hoped the relationship between the two organisations will remain strong.
Pietersen and Adams of Atlantis Rotary were on hand to accept the donation from the Tzu-Chi Foundation.
