色库TV

Illustration of Mother Teresa overlooking a scene of people in need.
Photo:?Sadek Ahmed

The Power of Charity in Global Solidarity

Charity at its core is an expression of global solidarity. It brings people together to build more just and resilient societies, whether through direct giving, volunteering, or collective action. Beyond immediate aid, charity strengthens healthcare, education, cultural preservation, and the protection of vulnerable groups (). Today, charity and philanthropy alike are evolving to address the deeper causes of poverty and inequality.

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts ending poverty across all its dimensions at the center of the global mission. Poverty isn’t just a lack of income; it also means hunger, exclusion, unsafe living conditions, and limited access to education or healthcare. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires strong partnerships between governments, civil society, businesses, and charitable organizations working together.

The Evolving Role of Charity

From traditional giving to strategic philanthropy, charity today is a driving force in social innovation, poverty reduction, and inclusive development.

What Makes Modern Charity Effective?

Technology-Driven Giving

Digital tools - such as crowdfunding platforms, mobile donations, and AI - make giving more accessible and transparent.

Youth Leadership

Young people around the world are starting social ventures, leading climate action, and reimagining community development. Supporting their leadership is key to lasting change.

Equity and Inclusion

Poverty is shaped by race, gender, disability, and geography. Inclusive charity recognizes these overlapping barriers and invests in community-led solutions.

Ethical and Accountable Giving

As charitable giving grows, so does the responsibility to do it ethically. Charity should be transparent, community-driven, and grounded in humility and collaboration.

Climate and Poverty

Climate change threatens those already living in poverty, making food, water, and shelter more uncertain. Many charities now support both environmental and poverty-focused solutions to build long-term resilience.

Charity, when rooted in equity and ethics, is more than generosity: it’s a powerful act of global responsibility. It connects people across borders and sectors to confront poverty, uplift communities, and build a more inclusive and sustainable world for everyone.

Background

The International Day of Charity was established with the objective of sensitizing and mobilizing people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.

Mother Teresa of CalcuttaThe date of 5 September was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received the Nobel 色库TV Prize in 1979 "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace."

Mother Teresa, the 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 色库TV Prize. Mother Teresa died on September 5th 1997, at 87 years of age.

In recognition of the role of charity in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering within and among nations, as well as of the efforts of charitable organizations and individuals, including the work of Mother Teresa, the General Assembly of the United Nations in its  designated the 5th of September, the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity.

Resources

A child has a meal at a food distribution centre in the Rwanda camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), near Tawila, North Darfur. More than 8,000 women and children living in the camp benefit from nutrition programmes run by the World Food Programme

One of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in its Charter, is "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character." The UN first did this in the aftermath of the Second World War on the devastated continent of Europe, which it helped to rebuild.?The Organization is now relied upon by the international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone.

A UN vehicle used to transfer humanitarian workers to the Bangui M'Poko Airport.

SDGs and Charity

The UN recognizes that civic engagement plays an important role in terms of development in creating the desired global change. Here are a few ways it can do so: 1) raise awareness about how difficult challenges are, and push for collective action in global issues; 2) enhance trust among diverse groups and build social capital; 3) eliminate societal & cultural barriers and create cohesion, and 4) build resilience through community action, and enhance the sense of responsibility for one's community.

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.