“Give your hands to serve and hearts to love” – Mother Teresa

The International Day of Charity was established with the objective of sensitizing and mobilizing people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities. It is observed annually on September 5^th.

The first person who comes to our mind when we hear the word “charity” is Mother Teresa who devoted her life to ministering to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying. Mother Teresa’s work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received many awards and distinctions, including the Nobel Peace Prize. This date was declared the International Day of Charity in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

As the day commemorates the work of Mother Teresa, it is essential to know more about her. Mother Teresa was born on the 26th of August 1910 as Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She is honored as Saint Teresa of Calcutta in the Catholic Church. She founded a Roman Catholic religious congregation, the Missionaries of Charity, in 1950. The Missionaries of Charity are active all over the world, with thousands of nuns all around the world. The congregation manages homes for those who are dying of tuberculosis, leprosy, and HIV/AIDs. It also runs schools, orphanages, family counseling programs, children’s counseling programs, mobile clinics, dispensaries, and soup kitchens. Members take vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity. They also profess a fourth vow, which is to give a “wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor.” Over the years, Mother Teresa has been awarded with many different honors. This includes being given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, as well as the Tamon Magsaysay Peace Prize in 1962.

The world is diverse consisting of people with different socio-economic backgrounds. So it is vital to reach out to wider parts of society, assisting those who need our help the most. “Charity” means generosity in giving something to the needy out of loving kindness towards them. Acts of charity could be in the form of cash, material gifts, quality time, or kind words. It could be in the form of providing basic necessities like food, water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, occupation, and security.  Contrary to popular opinion, you stand to gain a lot by being generous. The giver is rewarded as much as the recipient. Some even say it has health benefits and boosts our mental well-being.

There are numerous ways in which we can contribute to the International Day of Charity. First, find whatever touches your heart and appeals to you, and then find where your time is most valuable to them. Some charities will have you cleaning up natural areas, reading books to children, and teaching special needs individuals. Money isn’t the only thing charities can use and donating your time is often far more rewarding for you, as well. In addition to that especially on this special day, there are countless charity events to attend. You can also spend International Day of Charity learning about different charities. There are lots of charities around the world, with various causes. This includes charities for mental health, animal shelters, seniors, organizations for those with specific health problems, charities for the homeless, and so on. 

The importance of International Charity Day is that it reminds us to give back. It can be easy to live in our own lives and issues and the problems of the world fade away. International Day of Charity calls our attention back to the injustices of the world around us and shows us what we can do to fix them. Every charitable donation, no matter how small, makes an impact. We just need to look around for what we can help solve. International Day of Charity raises awareness for causes that are urgent, impactful, and dear to many hearts. Moreover, it helps us find causes we believe in. Everyone has causes that they feel are more important than others. Some choose to focus on animal rights, environmental welfare, or eradicating racism. There’s a cause out there that stokes your fire, so use International Day of Charity as the reason to explore which charity you find most impactful!

Written by: Rtr. Thisuri Tharindi

Graphic Design by: Rtr. Keshani Weerasekara