Humanitarian Acts – Large and Small
Here and There and Everywhere!
Let’s start abroad and then bring it home to the USA – knowing most helping concepts can be practiced anywhere by anyone.
According to the United Nations (UN), in an article published about National Humanitarian Day, humanitarian workers and organizations are suffering terribly.
“2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers. 2024 could be even worse. These facts lay bare a glaring truth: the world is failing humanitarian workers and, by extension, the people they serve.
Despite universally accepted international laws to regulate the conduct of armed conflict and limit its impact, violations of these laws continue unabated, unchallenged and unchecked. And while civilians, including aid workers, pay the ultimate price, the perpetrators continue to evade justice.”
In that connection, the UN provided several examples and additional resource links. It also mentioned a campaign that anyone who wants to be of service can join. Click Here for the link that relates to the information below.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”
~ Muhammad Ali
What Can Be Done Nearer to Home?
EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING BENEFICIAL
EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING BENEFICIALfor Helping People, Animals, and/or Earth
The truth is that most people pay attention only briefly, if at all, to what is happening to volunteers and humanitarian workers in places far removed from them. They strongly believe there is nothing constructive they can do, even when they care. At best, sending money to proven charities will suffice.
But, not all people who need help are in foreign war-torn or famine-afflicted countries. Let’s look at some examples and specific things you can do.
Helping Starts With a Desire to Be of Service
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
~ Mahatma Ghandi
I certainly found that to be true when I was a volunteer, whether I was hosting a radio show for people without sight, teaching prison inmates about computer use, or working at a huge shelter for homeless people, many of whom were drug addicted, had AIDS, and who were meeting other life-threatening challenges.
I also enjoyed being a Host Family to people from other countries, organizing things administratively for a non-profit, creating scripts for performances to raise awareness, helping people decide whether to start a business, plus other volunteer activities.
Sometimes, I teach free classes or give One-Woman Show performances of scripts I’ve created for worthy causes. Occasionally, I provide Life Coaching, business, editing, or Counseling services for someone who cannot afford to pay.
The experiences are always invaluable, and some resulted in life-long friendships, as well as public recognition that helped me professionally.
How to Begin Helping
My suggestions include doing something that will be most rewarding to YOU and to the person or population you want to assist. That will help you stay consistently engaged and reliable. Here are some examples.
Animal Lovers
If you love and are loved by animals, there are millions in need of help.
- You could participate in a “catch and release” program. They find and catch stray animals, give them medical attention, and neuter them so that the animals are not constantly impregnating or being impregnated, thereby creating more litters of babies that have no good way of feeding and protecting themselves.
- You could help with animal shelter chores, or by fostering animals and finding them good homes.
- Sometimes, simple grooming and regular visits to the animals create miracles.
- If those things are too heartbreaking to do when working “up close and personal” with suffering animals, you could contribute to meeting the expenses of those organizations that do this, or you might provide administrative assistance and record-keeping for them.
Helping People Get Government or Other Assistance
This could apply to people needing food, shelter, help for PTSD, help for addiction, medical assistance, and simply filling out forms to apply for services, employment, housing, credit, or other topics.
“There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you don’t do them.” ~ Charles Gill
It’s easy these days. All you have to do is sit in your home and go online to find religious or non-profit organizations in your area of interest.
Would you like to:
- Help people register to vote and get to the polls?
- Assist elderly or disabled people with daily living chores?
- Tutor kids (or adults!) in how to read or do math?
- Take care of someone once a week or month, so that their caregivers can have a day off?
- Feed hungry and/or homeless people?
- Organize donations for organizations that help or sell clothing and goods to give the proceeds to charities?
- Help to build housing for people in poverty?
- Offer your writing, marketing, and public relations skills to non-profits that need help in raising awareness or funds?
- Teach English – or another language – to someone in need?
- Translate language or complex documents to make them understood?
- Help people apply for things they need?
Let’s Get Specific!
- Begin with being respectful of people who are in dire circumstances. Often, circumstances outside their control are what caused the decline, and they might be traumatized by the situation – particularly if they are responsible for small children, elderly, or ill people in addition to themselves.
- Listen carefully and without judging while you try to determine what the actual needs and solutions are.
- When communicating with people for whom English is a 2nd language or who do not know English, speak slowly and clearly or use pictures and objects to convey your meaning respectfully.
- Educate yourself in the area you have chosen as a gift to others.
a. For example, if people need social services, first acquaint yourself with what benefits government, religious, and/or non-profit organizations can offer.
b. That includes knowing the policies and procedures that an applicant must wade through with your help
c. It includes having a list of resources – names, addresses, and phone numbers. Remember, some people may have to walk to the locations, if they are poor enough to have lost phones and means of transportation. It would be good if you could take them to appointments or arrange transportation for them.
d. It might simply require introducing the person to one of your contacts who can help.
I don’t know if they ever did, but TODAY’S SENIORS don’t want to sit home and rock in a rocking chair until they die!
They want to be useful and to have some fun. SO >
Use Your Expertise to Mentor Someone
Maybe the person you’re helping represents a business, a customer, or a potential client. On the other hand, perhaps, you would choose to mentor a young person or someone just getting started in an endeavor in which you have expertise.
Be generous! Chances are that you’ll learn as much as you impart, and you might gain a friend forever in the process!
There is AmeriCorps and Also the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Program.
“The AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program pairs thousands of Americans aged 55 and older with organizations making change in communities across the country.
AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who serve in our RSVP program choose how, where, and when they want to serve, with commitments ranging from a few hours to 40 hours per week. You can find an opportunity with any of the thousands of organizations we work with that see service as a solution to local, regional, and national challenges. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers report better health and longevity having served their community.”
Do You Want to Brainstorm About Helping Others?
I’d be happy to host you in a Sip & Share session to exchange ideas. If you would like to do that, please email me at
MyPersuasivePresentations@gmail.com
and put “Request Sip & Share” in the subject line. Next, in the body of the email, tell me what topic you want to discuss, and I’ll create the Zoom link for us after we coordinate schedules.
You are welcome to send me ideas for other kinds of voluntarism or ways in which to help Earth and its inhabitants. May you have a full life and great experiences along the way.
Do It the Write Way! Let My Fingers Do Your Talking!
