The objective of Tzu Chi USA’s volunteer certification training program aims to step by step nurture Tzu Chi commissioners and Faith Corps members who are replete with Tzu Chi spirit and are dedicated to widely recruit kindhearted people to further develop Tzu Chi’s Four Missions and Eight Footprints. The full training program spans a minimum of two years.
The first year, the Introductory Certification Training, is a six-workshop series designed for attendees to get a basic understanding of Tzu Chi’s work through experiencing a variety of Tzu Chi events and assessing their own conviction to walk this path.
Upon satisfactory completion of the Introductory Certification Training, should the attendees find themselves aligned with Tzu Chi’s values and would like to commit to Tzu Chi’s missions and work as a certified volunteer, they may sign up for the Advanced Certification Training. In this second year of training, in an eight-workshop series, attendees will learn more about Tzu Chi’s operations in various functions and will learn to inwardly cultivate themselves and outwardly manifest Tzu Chi’s spirit in their actions.
The training period each year begins in September and ends in June the following year. Between June to September is typically when registration for next year’s training program will take place.
Qualifications
To qualify to sign up as an introductory trainee, the individual must:
- Sign up to become a general volunteer with your local Tzu Chi office
- Complete 20 hours of volunteer work with Tzu Chi
- Complete an introductory training application form, with endorsements from mentor and community team lead
- Become a regular donor, if not a donor yet
FAQ
What is the purpose of this training?
- To nurture Tzu Chi commissioners and Faith Corps members so that we may spread the Dharma.
Why two years? What is the difference between the two years?
- The first year is to provide our commissioners with a basic understanding,
- The second year is to cultivate both spirit and experience.
What will getting certified allow me to do?
- After passing the second year of training and becoming certified, you may be eligible to hold volunteer leadership positions in your community or roles with progressively more responsibilities. With accumulated experience and a better understanding of Tzu Chi’s spirit and your local community, you may also be able to take part in making more strategic decisions to contribute to the development of Tzu Chi locally and regionally.
What languages are the workshops conducted in?
- English. Certain guest speakers may deliver their talk in Chinese, but English subtitles will be available and slides will be translated.
How many class sessions are there?
- Currently, the Introductory Certification Training is designed as a six-workshop series, while the Advanced Certification Training is designed as an eight-workshop series. Your local offices may hold supplementary sessions or gatherings for trainees locally to cover additional topics as they deem necessary.
What is the length of each workshop session?
- Each workshop session is 4 hours long.
Can I miss workshop sessions?
- You are allowed to miss up to a certain number of workshops. Please speak to your local training team about attendance and make-up policies.
Do I need to pay for anything to enroll in the program?
- The classes themselves are free. However, participants will have to pay for their own materials, uniforms, etc.
Are all workshops online, in-person, or hybrid?
- Currently, the core content is delivered online via Zoom. However, whether trainees will have to gather in the local office as a group or be allowed to join individually is at the discretion of each region.
What other requirements do I need to fulfill aside from attending the workshops?
- You are expected to also actively participate in Tzu Chi’s volunteering activities in your local office, complete self-assessments on a regular basis, meet donor recruitment requirements, and complete other assignments/forms. Please see the course syllabus for more details.
Why do I need to recruit donors?
- Tzu Chi was founded on the principle that anyone can contribute love to help those in need, everyone has the capacity to give, and that every small act of kindness counts. To certify as a Tzu Chi commissioner, trainees are expected to share Tzu Chi’s values with their local communities, and gather love and funds to support Tzu Chi’s missions.
What does “certification” entail physically?
- Once you have been nominated for certification by your local team, you are eligible to participate in the overseas volunteer certification retreat that takes place in Taiwan typically in late October to late November of each year. The certification retreat will take place over the course of a week, where you will get to hear from many speakers touching upon various aspects of Tzu Chi’s spirit and principles from the work they have done. The retreat will culminate in a certification ceremony, during which Dharma Master Cheng Yen will personally affix an official volunteer badge in front of your chest. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Jing Si Abode, the global headquarters of Tzu Chi and the spiritual home of Tzu Chi volunteers.
Where should I sign up?
- Please sign up for training with your local office; local volunteers should be fully engaged in your training process to better support you along the way.