“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”- Mother Teresa
The International Day of Charity was established to sensitize and mobilize people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.
The date of 5 September was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”
Charity, like the notions of volunteerism and philanthropy, provides real social bonding and contributes to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. Charity 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.
In the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015, the United Nations 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. The Agenda 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. (sourced from un.org)
As an organization that has a large component of philanthropy, we would like to take this time to encourage everyone to reach out, stand up and carry out some act of philanthropy. Charity and philanthropy are not about pity or looking down on anyone, they are about lending a helping hand and making society better one small act at a time. You don’t have to donate hundreds or be the leading advocate in your community, all it takes is one small step and one small act of kindness. Response Network for the past 16 years has strived to do its bit to contribute towards the set development goals, help communities gain the knowledge they need to improve their lives and see the girl child have equal access to education. We will continue to do our best to support our beneficiaries and with your help, we can make Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia, and the World a better place. If you are able and interested in how you can help, head over to our website at www.responsenetwork.org 😊😊