Tzu-Chi Foundation

BBC has listed 100 influential women from all over the world for 2022.

Among the big names are are global music phenomenon Billie Eilish, Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, actresses Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Selma Blair, the ‘tsarina of Russian pop’ Alla Pugacheva, Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, record-breaking triple jump athlete Yulimar Rojas, and Ghanaian author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah.

From Asia is Dharma Master Cheng Yen from Taiwan.

She is one of the most influential figures in the development of Taiwanese Buddhism and its teachings.

Often referred to as the “Mother Teresa of Asia”, Master Cheng Yen is the founder of humanitarian Tzu-Chi Foundation. 

She started the organisation in 1966 with just 30 housewives saving money to help families in need.

The foundation has since grown to have millions of followers globally, providing international relief and medical aid and running schools and most recently providing financial and material aid to refugees from war-torn Ukraine.