Volunteers at the recycling centre take a tea break. Those wearing blue shirts are “certified volunteers” with at least two years' service. Probationers, or those who choose not to become certified, wear grey shirts.

Da Ai TV studio in Taiwan

The Still Thoughts Hall at Foundation headquarters in Hualien

Monks and volunteers preparing food at the monastery

Monks and volunteers preparing ingredients for soda crackers

The temple at the Tzu Chi monastery outside Hualien

Two of the volunteers who acted as translators and showed us round the Foundation

Monks' living quarters and workshops on the ground floor