Show your Commitment to International Day of Charity by Searching for a Charity to Support or Getting Involved in a Charity

By Harrish Thirukumaran

According to the United Nations (UN), charity, as with volunteerism and philanthropy, can instill forms of social bonding and contribute to the creation of inclusive and resilient societies. Furthermore, it can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, supplement public services in health care, education, housing and child protection. It assists the advancement of culture, science, sports, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage. It also promotes the rights of the marginalized and underprivileged and spreads the message of humanity in conflict situations.

These are aspects that the International Day of Charity seeks to espouse. Officially marked on September 5, it was created with the purpose of sensitizing and mobilizing people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.

September 5th was selected as the date for this day because it honours the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”

Mother Teresa, a renowned nun and missionary, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910. In 1928, she went to India, where she devoted herself to helping the destitute. In 1948, she became an Indian citizen and founded the order of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkota (Calcutta) in 1950, which became noted for its work among the poor and the dying in that city.

For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity’s expansion, first in India and then in other countries, including hospices and homes for the poorest and homeless. Mother Teresa’s work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of awards and distinctions, including the Nobel Peace Prize. Mother Teresa died on September 5th 1997, at 87 years of age.

It originally started out as a Hungarian civil society initiative that received support from the Hungarian parliament in 2011. It commemorated this day on September 5 in honour of Mother Teresa. By 2012, recognizing the role of charity and charitable organizations in allaying human suffering, the UN General Assembly made it international through resolution A/RES/67/105.

In the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015, it recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

It also calls for a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. It also acknowledges the role of the diverse private sector, ranging from micro-enterprises to cooperatives to multinationals, and that of civil society organizations and philanthropic organizations in the implementation of the new Agenda.

Looking more critically, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the Agenda are grouped into five critical areas: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership. They have the potential to transform our lives and our planet by providing the framework needed for philanthropic institutions to enable all people to contribute to the betterment of our world.

To show your commitment to International Day of Charity, you can search for a charity to support or get involved with a charity to transform lives for the better.