In the aftermath of Typhoon Danas, which caused severe damage to the campus of National Chung Cheng University (CCU), Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers joined hands with CCU faculty members, staff, and students, including international students, to participate in post-disaster recovery efforts. On July 12, the united team launched a large-scale cleanup operation. CCU President Shaw-Jenq Tsai rolled up his sleeves to work alongside the volunteers, encouraging everyone with heartfelt words of gratitude and support. The atmosphere on-site was deeply moving and filled with positivity.

The windstorm caused widespread destruction across CCU, with fallen trees and damaged buildings leaving the once-green campus in ruins. Volunteers from Tzu Chi traveled from across Taiwan—some driving their own vehicles and others coming from as far as Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Taipei. One family even joined the effort while visiting Taiwan from overseas. On this day, volunteers focused primarily on clearing the heavily damaged parking area of the College of Management and the surroundings of the College of Engineering, bringing with them manpower, tools, and valuable disaster-relief experience. Senior volunteer Brother Tseng, who has participated in numerous disaster response missions, brought professional-grade equipment to assist with the removal of large fallen trees, significantly accelerating the recovery process and improving safety across the site.

Several CCU alumni who were once active members of the university’s Tzu Chi Collegiate Association, also returned to help. Among them was Mr. Lin, who earned his bachelor’s through doctoral degrees at CCU. Deeply attached to his alma mater, he said, “When I saw the photos of the damaged campus, I felt heartbroken. As soon as I heard about the volunteer effort, I decided to come with my children to help. This place shaped who I am, and it’s my turn to give back.”

Beyond Tzu Chi volunteers, international faculty and students also joined the restoration effort, reflecting CCU’s inclusive and global spirit. Dr. Jerry Rao, a 70-year-old pastor from Chiayi’s Love Church English Fellowship and a former lecturer in CCU’s Department of Electrical Engineering, worked alongside Professor Po-An Hsiung and Associate Professor Hsi-Wu Lo from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering to organize students for cleanup. Among the volunteers were several students from India. Derrish, an Indian student who has lived in Taiwan for six and a half years, shared, “This is the first time I’ve experienced such a devastating typhoon. CCU is the most beautiful campus in my heart. Seeing it damaged was heartbreaking. Helping restore it feels like something I must do.”

Mr. Po-Wen Yen, CEO of the Tzu Chi Foundation, also traveled south from Taipei to visit the campus and express concern for the university community. He noted, “Everyone cares deeply about what happened here. CCU is a large campus, and even with all the effort from the university, recovery requires everyone’s strength. Through our actions, we hope to restore its beauty and vitality, and spread a message of kindness and hope.”

CCU President Shaw-Jenq Tsai expressed his gratitude and reflections, “The typhoon brought great destruction and sorrow, but disasters can also unite people with shared purpose. The collaboration between Tzu Chi volunteers, our faculty, students, and the international community embodies the spirit of resilience and compassion. This effort marks a significant milestone in our ongoing partnership with Tzu Chi since signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2024, realizing our joint goal of building disaster-prevention and response mechanisms.”

As Typhoon Danas became the first typhoon in a century to make landfall in Chiayi, CCU and Tzu Chi swiftly activated their collaboration framework. Together, they demonstrated not only strong collective action in times of crisis but also a shared commitment to the values of “doing good together and striving for mutual betterment”, moving steadily toward a vision of a more resilient and compassionate world.