World Humanitarian Day, observed on August 19, is an international day dedicated to recognizing humanitarian personnel and those who have died while working for humanitarian causes. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly following the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad on August 19, 2003, which killed Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, and 21 of his colleagues. The day honors their legacy and the efforts of humanitarian workers worldwide, inspired by the dedication of Vieira de Mello, who served the UN for over 30 years. The Sérgio Vieira de Mello Foundation, founded in 2006, continues its mission of promoting peaceful reconciliation and supporting victims of humanitarian crises.
MOST VALUABLE HUMANITARIAN QUOTES
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” — Martin Luther King, Jr
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Desmond Tutu
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service.” — Robert Collier
“There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.” — Mandy Hale
“What made America a democracy was not just that it had elections, but that it was a society of joiners and volunteers and people who wanted constantly to be involved in making their communities better.” — Barack Obama
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” — Audre Lorde
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” — Mother Teresa
“The world is more malleable than you think, and it’s waiting for you to hammer it into shape.” — Bono
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” — Ronald Reagan
“To say that daily, you can make a difference, well, you can. One act of kindness a day can do it.” — Betty Williams
“Everyone can be a humanitarian. All it takes is one act to help someone else. That’s the spirit of people helping people.” — Valerie Amos, former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis
“No matter what, you give everybody a fair shake, and when somebody needs a hand, you offer yours.” — Michelle Obama
“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” — John Lewis
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” — Malala Yousafzai
“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.” — Nelson Mandela
“Don’t expect change to happen overnight, even if it’s not always visible it’s making more impact than you think.” — Emma Watson
“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Optimism doesn’t mean that you are blind to the reality of the situation. It means that you remain motivated to seek a solution to whatever problems arise.” — The Dalai Lama
