Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY, June 7, 2023—This June, Tzu Chi USA (also known as the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation) is unveiling its global refugee relief exhibition at the Tzu Chi Center for Compassionate Relief in New York City. Spanning two floors, Uprooted: Compassion After Displacement, tells the story of the positive impact Global Tzu Chi has had on those seeking comfort and refuge in a new home through stunning photos and videos. Hand-drawn artwork from child refugees from Syria will also be on display.
Guests are invited to join the grand opening program, taking place at the Tzu Chi Center for Compassionate Relief, located at 229 E 60th Street, New York NY 10022 on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The free event will feature remarks from representatives of partner organizations, Tzu Chi Turkey volunteer Faisal Hu, heart-warming performances, a guided tour, and complimentary plant-based lunch. Those who wish to attend are encouraged to RSVP here. The exhibition will be opened to the general public on June 17.
After war erupted in Ukraine last year, spurring millions to flee within Ukraine and to neighboring countries, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation signed Memoranda of Understanding with many fellow NGOs, including UNICEF USA, to extend the reach of its humanitarian aid. In particular, Tzu Chi committed $10 million to UNICEF’s emergency response supporting children and families impacted by war in Ukraine. Of the effort, Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and Chief Executive Officer of UNICEF USA, says:
Children and families in Ukraine have had their lives uprooted for more than a year while enduring violence, trauma, destruction and displacement. With the support of partners like the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, UNICEF can continue to provide lifesaving assistance to those affected by the ongoing war.
The unveiling of Uprooted is partly inspired by the run up to the UNHCR’s second-ever Global Refugee Forum, taking place this year in Geneva, Switzerland from December 13-15, 2023.
According to the UNHCR, the United Nations’ Refugee Agency, 1 in 78 people have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict, famine, and more. Uprooted seeks to call attention to this grand upheaval while humanizing the stories of people experiencing displacement. Tzu Chi USA’s Chief Executive Officer Debra Boudreaux emphasizes:
“It's going to allow us to reflect on the stories behind the numbers of forced migration. It encourages us to think about what you would do in that situation… to learn and take to heart that it could be any of us in the photos, videos, or stories you see in the exhibit.”
The exhibition will highlight Tzu Chi’s worldwide relief missions to support those who have been displaced over the years to Jordan, Malaysia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Thailand, Türkiye, the United States, and more. The missions have included anywhere from financial aid to emergency supplies, from free medical care to education programs, from food packages to transportation services, and much more. According to Boudreaux, the exhibition makes a powerful case for “how our unique programs have achieved success and what they need to continue.”
Furthermore, Boudreaux also hopes that the exhibition showcases Tzu Chi’s support for communities of diverse faith traditions–while also showing the positive impact socially engaged Buddhism can have on the world.
[We’re showing] Buddhists helping people. Buddhist helping Muslims, helping Christians, other Buddhists, and so forth. That kind of interfaith support. And that Buddhists are really doing so many good things around the world.
Uprooted: Compassion After Displacement will be open daily to the general public from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm beginning June 17, 2023 at the Tzu Chi Center for Compassionate Relief. Admission is free. RSVP here for the grand opening on June 13, 2023.
MEDIA CONTACT
Anik Ghose
[email protected]
ABOUT US
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a global non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 1966 by a Buddhist nun named Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Taiwan. Its missions of medicine, charity, education, and humanistic culture have brought relief to 128 countries and counting. In 1989, Tzu Chi USA was established and now has 63 offices across the US. The heart of Tzu Chi is embedded in its name: in Chinese, “tzu” means compassion and “chi,” relief.
