Give the world back a little of your blessings and make this world a healthier, happier and peaceful home for everyone.
Tasneem Hossain | Bangladesh
‘Your greatness is not what you have, it’s what you give.’
Most of us have given in one way or another: either by helping a friend, giving donations, spending time volunteering, or helping someone in some way. Giving back is an act of kindness which evokes a feeling of satisfaction which cannot be compared with any other feeling.
‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others’- Gandhi
When we help others who need it, it’s charity given with the full intention to help with generosity. It’s love, love of humanity.
When you see a child starving on the streets, a beggar with sunken eyes lying on the streets-how do you feel? I believe we all feel compassion for them. But how much do we do to help them?
Do you know around 3 billion people of earth’s population live in poverty which consists of nearly one billion children? About 22,000 of these children die each day. Hunger is one of the leading causes of death among the poor.
The governments may not always be fully equipped to help the needy. So charity organizations are set up to provide resources to help the neediest and the most vulnerable. Kind and generous people often help people in society by donating to these organizations.
These donations play a crucial role in benefitting those living in extreme poverty and most vulnerable with the basic necessities like food, shelter and clothing to attain a better standard of living.
Giving charity can always help. Though it’s not possible to help everyone, if each of us did our part then the world would become a better place for many.
You can also donate to Charity organizations and collectively work to provide dedicated resources to help. Your donation will help charities to work towards creating a society that benefits everyone.
When we think of charity, one name comes first in our minds: Mother Teresa.
Her charitable work truly began in 1948, when she adopted Indian citizenship and dedicated herself to the cause of helping the poorest people in the country. She opened several hospices and instituted leper houses and orphanages and even established a congregation which helped to grow into many charitable organizations around the globe. Sadly, she passed away in 1997.
She 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.’
Her life has been a source of inspiration for many people to this day. She is remembered as a woman of great faith and selfless devotion for charitable purposes. In fact, she left such a legacy that in 2011, the Hungarian Parliament chose to honor her death anniversary by declaring it a national holiday. In 2012, the UN General Assembly of the United Nations, in its resolution, designated 5th of September (death anniversary of Mother Teresa) as the International Day of Charity.
The International Day of Charity was established with the objective to highlight the power of charity in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering within and among nations; and to raise awareness and mobilize people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteering and philanthropic activities.
Each year, both the UN and independent charities hold events to honor this special day.
You can also join hands to celebrate this day with simple acts of charity to alleviate human sufferings. Other than donating money, there are many ways to get involved like volunteering to teach children, planting trees, visiting a hospice, old home or a homeless shelter; helping in a soup kitchen, or a place in your community that serves the underprivileged; donating clothes or providing food.
Many organizations host charity events for fundraising where all or some of the proceeds are donated to a specific cause. Attend one of these events. Create awareness about the day with your family and friends; sponsor a child living in poverty.
No matter how you choose to give charity, you’ll be making a difference.
Do you know that nearly two thirds of Cancer Research’s income comes from donations alone?
When you give to charity, you are helping to fund important research projects into fighting diseases and life enhancing programs. Even a small donation can go a very long way. It can help to change a life of an individual and lead to vital improvements to your community.
Millions around the globe give to charity regularly to support causes they believe in. Each of us can choose to donate depending on the causes we prefer, our income, lifestyle, and financial situation.
Donating to the causes you care about can be highly rewarding for you. Giving charity is self-gratifying and life-changing for everyone.
Your decision to donate can make an impact on the lives of those who need it. When a person is in great need of basic necessities and can’t find it, it may sometimes lead that person to steal or turn to violence. The consequences could be harsh. Your donation helps individuals. At the same time the Charity organizations teach job skills to the needy, which equip them to survive the harsher realities of life and become independent earners. Your act of charity is a great social service to the community.
Of course it’s your personal choice how to give charity or where to give. But there are always many reasons for you to make a donation.
Children deserve to have a safe and carefree childhood. Sponsoring a child or donating to good children’s charities like ‘Save the Children’, ‘World Vision Bangladesh’ or UNICEF can help them have a safe childhood.
Those suffering due to war or conflict can be helped by donating to organizations like the ‘The Red Cross’ or ‘Red Crescent Society’.
Giving charity builds and strengthens our community and country as a whole. By donating to those in need, it will give you a sense of belonging as you become an active part of the society.
Your actions can also inspire and set example for others. There’s power in numbers: the more people come forward the more people can be benefitted. Talk to your friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. Let them know you are giving charity. It may motivate them to get involved too. Moreover, many of your family members might already be giving to charity and by working together it could have greater positive impact.
Children are by nature compassionate. Sharing your experience of donating with your children will reinforce this generosity in them to grow into kind human beings.
Giving to charity is one of the best ways to show gratitude for all blessings you have been given. Remember that your generosity will not only make a difference in the lives of others but will also enrich your own life in innumerable ways. One of the most important things, apart from benefitting the needy, is that it makes you feel good about yourself. Giving to charity is a major mood-enhancer. The feeling of helping others is highly empowering and fulfilling. Research shows that acts of giving and kindness create positive feelings and can help improve mental wellbeing. It also strengthens personal values; gives a feeling of purpose and self-worth in life.
“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.’ -Hellen Keller
When you donate to a charity, you send a strong message of hope, support and compassion for them – that there are people in this world who care about them. It demonstrates your concern for others and commitment to create a more caring and compassionate society which helps contribute to bring a positive change in the world.
By Charitable contributions you are helping to make progress toward solving global problems such as poverty, hunger, disease, health care, education, housing, climate change and child safety. It also promotes the rights of the marginalized and underprivileged and spreads the message of love and peace. This will help the future generations to inherit a healthier, happier and a better world.
“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service’ H. W. Longfellow.
Give the world back a little of your blessings and make this world a healthier, happier and peaceful home for everyone.
Read: True friends: the fountain of love and happiness
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Tasneem Hossain is a multilingual poet, columnist, op-ed and fiction writer, educator, translator and training consultant. She is the Director of Continuing Education Centre, Bangladesh. With four published books (four more are underway), her writings are published regularly on the global platform. Some of her works have been translated in 23 languages.
