Examining the role of NPOs on International Day of Charity
“When we think about the International Day of Charity, I want to encourage everyone to contextualise it within the scope of the SDGs, and to reflect on the role that every individual plays in helping to achieve them. Achieving the SDGs is critical if we are to move forward as a global community and remove the barriers to development which face far too many people today” Imraan Choonara, CEO of AMA, a global humanitarian organisation, shares his thoughts on commemorating this day in 2024.
The International Day of Charity is observed on 5 September, the birthday of Mother Theresa, one of the most iconic figures of charitable work through the ages. Figureheads like Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela, celebrities and even international brands have influenced people to do more and give more.
It is notable that Mother Theresa, the chosen icon for this day, is deeply connected to a faith-based motivation for giving. A recent study of charitable giving in South Africa showed that the highest percentage of donations given were through a religious organisation. Almost half of people engaged in volunteering activities do so through religious organisations as well.
Africa Muslims Agency is grateful to have been a part of this movement within the South African and Muslim community to uplift the impoverished and entrench a culture of giving from generation to generation.
Riyadh Davids, Volunteer Co-ordinator at AMA speaks about the connection and purpose which people feel when pursuing charitable endeavours. “Volunteering with an organisation allows people the chance to be that change they want to see and achieve, and also allows a human connection. There are bonds created between the volunteers themselves, and between volunteers and those they are assisting. It provides a sense of purpose and fulfilment”.
It is almost unthinkable that millions of people live without access to water, that babies die from diahorrea or that girls cannot attend school because of period poverty, and yet, this remains the daily reality for millions.
While governments work to alleviate the suffering of their people as best they can, it is only through combined efforts of all sectors globally that any real change can be realised.
The giving of charity, itself a concept as old as time, has played a remarkable role in stemming human suffering through the ages, stepping in where governments fail, either due to funding, capacity or bureaucratic procedure.
In recent years, concepts such as Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainable empowerment and alignment with SDG goals have awoken even the more pragmatic to the need for charity if global issues such as gender equality, climate change and peace are ever to be addressed.
Choonara states: “Charitable organisations have a massive responsibility in educating the public on the need for collective responsibility for achieving the SDGs. The SDGs are not only the responsibility of aid organisations, but of every human being.”
He continues by encouraging accountability for actions taken to achieve these goals, and reminds us that giving charity is not something that should be limited to a single day or occasion.
The benefits of giving charity often go far beyond what we imagine, creating ripple effects of change within communities in need.
