With respect to the increasingly serious environmental problems in the world, such as the detrimental changes in climate, land, marine life, and water resources, we are seeing more frequent disasters caused by natural forces and human destruction. Environmental protection has become a mutual responsibility across regions and ethnicities. The long-lasting destructive consequences of environmental damage must be addressed by all human beings. Tzu Chi College of Technology (TCCT), as established by Tzu Chi Buddhist Relief Foundation, is dedicated to developing students with the valuable characteristics of concern for others, respect, unselfishness, generosity, and humanitarianism, as an addition to their professional knowledge and skills. The core curriculum of general education at Tzu Chi College of Technology is Tzu Chi Humanities. In a call for efforts to heal Mother Earth, TCCT promotes the ideals and principles of the founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen, while emphasizing the value found in curbing desires and adhering to a high standard of moral behavior. With an underlying theme of international exchange and cross-cultural collaboration, this particular course integrates the disciplines of humanities, languages, art, earth science, and fundamental medicine while highlighting the issues surrounding environmental disasters, environmental protection, and waste recycling. A Humanities-based atmosphere is critical in enhancing intellectual and affective development of a person. Tzu Chi Humanities includes reflections on the contacts among people, and the awareness of the interaction between humans and nature.

Tzu Chi College of Technology launched successful cultural exchange events at Brigham Young University in 2008, and Texas A & M International University in 2009. The Ming Ai Institute in London, as associated with the Christian-based Ming Ai Association, learned about the program and sincerely extends an invitation, hoping to provide exchange support in the form of cultural performances. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), complimenting Tzu Chi Foundation’s dedication to humanitarian relief and waste recycling, also expresses high interest in holding a forum to highlight the Tzu Chi Missions’ devoted actions in environmental protection.

The first section of the program includes the development of English teaching materials contextualized in environmental protection and waste recycling components. The second section includes camp activities open to teachers and students in Hualien. The teaching materials and methodology can be shared during the camps. The message of protecting Mother Earth can be promoted through action-oriented learning.

The third section involves the trip to Ming Ai Institute and LSE to share the environmental protection achievement of Tzu Chi volunteers around the world. This exchange program will help promote international action towards healing Mother Earth across languages, cultures, academic disciplines, and religions. With LSE’s leading reputation in social sciences research, as well as Ming Ai London Institute’s advancements in charity service, the exchange program will collaborate with their resources and connections to upgrade the international image of Taiwan. Additionally, the exchange program showcases an introduction to the new uprising of religious awareness by Tzu Chi School of Buddhism that Taiwan is well-known for good deeds and Great Love. This proposal serves to put into action Tzu Chi Foundation’s high ideals of humanitarianism while sharing a global vision of extended love and environmentalism that spans the barriers of language, ethnicity, culture and religion.