Interview – Chairperson of New Taipei City Dianzai Street Fude Temple Foundation

│Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜

Fude Temple on Dianzai Street has been doing charity works of varying natures for quite some time. Today, The Wondrous Temple Expedition is going to interview the chairperson of Dianzai street Fude Tempple Foundation, Ms. Cao Yating. She kindly shared with us how the foundation was run and how funds were raised and managed. We found that Chairperson Cao is really dedicated to charity work because she goes all out when trying to help disadvantaged groups. She hopes to raise funds and bring them to those who really need them.  

• Interviewee: Chairperson Cao Yating
• 3 years serving at Dianzai Street Fude Temple Foudnation
• Interviewers: Oscar, Laura, Candy, Sophie, Linus
• Ranscription: Oscar, Laura
• Date: 2018.12.09
• location: 2F Office, Fude Temple on Dianzai Street

Interview Log

About the temple

Q: What makes Fude Temple on Dianzai Street different from other Earth God temples?

A: We do a lot of charity works here at Fude Temple on Dianzai Street. The scope of our charity work is very broad, and we are constantly looking for ways to help different groups of people. Disaster relief is temporary, and we often respond immediately. It’s a bit hard to list out all the charity works we have done.

Q: Do you follow a particular deity or religion more closely?

A: I think every deity or religion is worthy of following, like Taoism, Buddhism, Catholicism, or Christianity. It is what people believe in, so I think every deity should be respected.

About the Foundation

Q: When was the foundation established?

A: The foundation was established in October, 2017.

Q: Besides making the financials more transparent, what are other reasons for establishing the foundation?

A: Financial transparency was the result of establishing the foundation. We also took over the temple management so the financials for both sides were transparent.

Q: How did you get selected to be the chairperson of the foundation? What’s the primary duty of this position? Is it a difficult position to assume?

A: The chairperson was elected by the board. I was voted to the chairperson position because the board members trusted me, and I am good at raising funds for the temple. My duties include charity work and media relation. As long as you are willing to do the job, it is not difficult at all. I even find it a joy to be the chairperson of the foundation.

Q: The temple receives donations from many worshippers. According to Mr. Zhang, after deducting costs for temple operation, the remainder is then transferred over to the foundation. How is the fund managed and utilized?

A: After we came under the governance of New Taipei City, we need to use 60% of the donation for charity work. For private temples, they could do whatever they want with the donations. Most of our donations go to schools or disadvantaged groups. For example, some funding goes to public schools, schools in rural areas, school clubs, special education, and emergency assistance. At the end of each year we have a meeting with school trustees to discuss funding for school clubs. If they needed rice, we would donate as well. We have people coming in everyday for emergency assistance, and residents of Yonghe district are also eligible to apply.

Charity Related

Q: We understand that the temple does put in a lot of efforts into taking care of disadvantaged groups. How does the temple go about selecting whom gets the assistance? Are there specific groups that you have locked in?

A: For example, farmers have been having a tough time recently with the excessive planting of cabbages, so the temple committee organized a meeting to try to help farmers out. Similarly, when worshippers purchase rice and then leave it at the temple, we would collect the rice and then donate the rice to orphanages. There is an orphanage in Muzha, and we deliver food donations there every now and then. Furthermore, whenever there is excess food donation after a prayer for the deceased, we would send the goods to schools or orphanages.

Q: How frequently does the temple organize charity work?

A: We do not have a set schedule for that, but we have been doing it for quite some time. If it is about activities for seniors, a lot of people would join in. We used to give out free lunch boxes, but due to preparation for the lighting of perpetual lights and Earth God’s birthday celebration over the past three months, we stopped that temporarily. But we are still collecting donations, so once we have time, the donations would go out.

Q: Do you have any plans for charity works in the future?

A: We hope residents of Yonghe may give us suggestions as to what types of charity works are needed. We have been doing a wide variety of charity works, and there isn’t much we could expand on. Personally, I’m more into education for children, and I want to help children learn better. In our first year working with public schools, we focused on school clubs. In the second year, we added special education as part of our assistance program. We are looking into helping schools in more ways by visiting schools and asking children what they actually need.

Q: It looks like the lighting of perpetual lights has started. Do you have plans to light perpetual lights for the disadvantaged groups?

A: I will make a note of your suggestion and take it to the board for discussion with members of the committee.

Look Into the Future

Q: If the temple gets more funds, will there be any plans to change the temple?

A: Charity work has been the main focus of the temple, and we will continue to do more of it in the name of Earth God to help out the disadvantaged groups in more ways possible.

Q: What are your expectations for the temple?

A: I hope more people would come and pray. Like you said, if there are more funds, we would do more charity works for the benefit of the community. We will continue to work on it.

Q: Do you have anything that you wish to say to children of our age?

A: Take care of your school work! As the temple’s management, we would like children to listen to their parents and take good care of school work. However, as a mother, I believe building character matters more than grades at school. I always tell children when they are in the heat of an argument, they should first take a deep breath and then ask their parents or teachers for advice. Then, try to communicate to resolve any differences that might exist so both parties may resolve their differences.

Afterthoughts from the Interview

We interviewed Chairperson Cao and learned about the charity works that the temple has done, like replacing paper money with rice, group meal for seniors, and free perpetual lights. The chairperson is dedicated to doing charity works. Throughout the interview, her answers were always concise so we would be able to grasp the information accurately. From her, I learned that I need to have the will to help others. I hope when I grow up, I would be able to help others like Chairperson Cao did.

Besides explaining how the foundation operated, Chairperson Cao was also into doing charity works. She is always thinking of ways to help disadvantaged groups. She hopes to channel the donations and help the disadvantaged groups. After the interview, she told us that a person’s character is more important than grades at school, so that’s why we need to focus on building character.

It was my second interview since joining Cyberfair, and just like others, I worked really hard to take notes throughout the interview, hoping to give my best performance for the team. From the interview, we learned how donation was used by the temple, and the chairperson shared with us how important a person’s character was. After the interview, I thought I was too nervous and missed out on a few chances to ask the questions that I had set out. I really need to work on that.

Source Text: The Wondrous Temple Expedition, Chairperson of Dianzai Street Fude Temple Foundation │
Photos: The Wondrous Temple Expedition