Every year, charities all over the world help to save and improve people’s lives, fighting diseases, protecting children, and giving hope to thousands of people. To honour the important work that these many charities do, in 2012 the United Nations decided to nominate an Annual International Day of Charity as an official day of recognition and celebration. The reason the date was chosen is because it is the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This choice commemorates the tireless work that Mother Teresa did by devoting her whole life to charity work. To celebrate this special day every year, the work of different charities all over the world is publicized and celebrated, and people are encouraged to donate money and time, to carry out charitable works, and also to educate people and raise awareness about the many charitable issues worldwide. Education and giving are the essence of this special day which is observed annually on 5th September.
It is a day to rekindle the attitude of kindness and understanding towards other people of the world. A behavior of benevolence to others less fortunate than ourselves, provision of goods, money and health care to those in need. Philanthropic gestures by others to ameliorate the condition of others.
The World Charity Day is be marked to celebrate individuals, corporate bodies, organized private sector, civil societies, auxiliaries to governments of the world, community based organizations, faith based organizations, the mass media, trade unions, professional associations and co-operative societies among others who are the architects of our world.
The International Day of Charity raises two main questions: What is Charity? And why is there a special day for International Charity? Charity is the act of giving, typically of money and/or time, to help those less advantaged.
In the 2030 Agenda on Suitable 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.
Ruminating on the activities of these charities and prominent individuals of the world with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which is a clear strategic initiative to ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership of development. To mention just a few of these organizations like International Committee of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Rotary International, Medicine San Frontier, Bill Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rocky Fella Foundation, and a lot of individual foundations and charities in Nigeria, Anambra State and all the States of the Federation which have made enormous contributions as stakeholders to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which is central to world economic and social order.
Deeper approaches must be taken that give special attention to the most vulnerable. This requires the participation of governments by creating enabling environment, advocacy, motivation, and partnership with donors, international agencies, civil societies, volunteers and the mass media in this militating period of Boko Haram terrorism, herdsmen and farmers conflicts, self-determination agitations which resulted in extreme difficult situations of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) who are in great need of food, water, shelter, healthcare and security to survive.
The Federal Government as a matter of urgent national importance should establish a Federal Ministry of Reconciliation and State Ministries of Reconciliation in all States of Nigeria with sufficient budgetary provisions. This is expected to cause peace and national cohesion which is better than tough talks and military deployment which will exacerbate the militating situations.
Charity contributes to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding among people. Charity is the harbinger of peace and social responsibilities, do not procrastinate, do something for Humanity, be your brother’s keeper because every day is an opportunity to help those in need!!!,
Written by PROF. PETER KATCHY
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