
Lo Prado is a city of 100,000 people in Santiago province. Its mayor is a pediatrician and a friend of a fellow pediatrician, Dr Lopez, who told him about a Tzu Chi free clinic she attended last year in the city of Penalolen. The mayor then contacted volunteer Yang Chuanglong, a doctor, to ask him if they could co-operate in holding a free clinic in the city.
For the location, they chose a government primary school; it prepared four classrooms for the medical examinations, complete with curtains for privacy, and a fifth as a pharmacy. The volunteers arrived at 11 a.m. and were warmly received by the school principal, who showed them the facilities and did everything to help. After two hours of preparation, the volunteers had a healthy appetite and enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by volunteer Hsiu-chuen, with pineapple shortcrust pastry and sponge cakes provided for dessert.
The patients had started to arrive for the clinic, which began at 2 p.m. The city government had sent shuttle buses to bring disabled patients to the school. The event began with an introduction to Tzu Chi by volunteer Hsieh Cheng-hsiang. He invited everyone to pray together for the people of Japan and held a collection for them. Although the patients were not wealthy and included care recipients, they were eager to donate and the collection box was filled with love.

The free clinic was a success and volunteers and patients alike delighted to take part.