Be A Humanitarian: Ways To Make An Impact On People's Lives Every Day
If you’ve ever looked around and felt overcome with the trials and hurts of the world around you, you’re not alone. If you’ve ever felt powerless to do something about it or wondered if your efforts - however small or large - actually make a difference, you’re not alone in that either.
According to the Global Humanitarian Overview, a report from the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs, 274 million people will need humanitarian aid and protection in 2022.
That number is daunting and may feel out of reach, but every kindness and humanitarian effort makes a true difference. While one single person may be unable to change the entire world - we are individually empowered to make a difference in someone’s world right in our own communities.
World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19, serves to channel those feelings and drive collaborative action through doing good, helping others, and making radical changes to impact our world. And you can take part - in August and every day!
Make a lasting difference in the world by becoming a humanitarian
You may be wondering how you can truly make a difference in your town and the world around you. The answer, by becoming a humanitarian.
What does it mean to be a humanitarian? A humanitarian is someone who focuses on raising the standard of living for humans and helping our earth and environments thrive. It’s a great thing to focus on being a “good” person, but a humanitarian takes that concept one step further by putting their beliefs and values into radical action that blesses others and our world.
Your first step - cultivate a humanitarian mindset
If you’re ready to put your own humanitarian wheels into motion, your first step is to cultivate and practice a humanitarian mindset. A humanitarian mindset is one of realism, optimism, hope, and urgency.
It’s built from a realistic view of the state of the world (taking off the rose-colored glasses), believing that things can change, knowing that your efforts are needed and can make a difference, and understanding that taking action now is what makes the difference.
A humanitarian mindset will cultivate in you:
A desire to nurture a thriving planet
A commitment to improving the lives of others in some way
An intention to collaborate and link arms with others in your community
A belief that opportunities are endless and available
An ability to look for and perceive opportunities everywhere
How to find ways to take action in your community
Getting started may be the most difficult part. There are so many causes to support and endless movements impacting the world - you may wonder where to start first.
The best place to start is by paying close attention to the needs in your own backyard. Here are a few starting points:
Read and watch the local news. Tune your ear to the needs and happenings in your community.
Join the email lists of local nonprofits. Identify the causes that you feel the most strongly about and connect with local nonprofits making a difference in those areas locally. Get on their email lists to stay on top of their needs and events so you can participate.
Connect with your local library. Local libraries are always looking for volunteers and supporters for their community programs. Start there and take part!
Get to know your neighbors. Don’t ignore the needs in your literal backyard! Your next door neighbor may need a meal after a loved one passes, a sitter for the kids after an especially long work day, or just a heart-warming chat over a cup of coffee. Get to know your neighbors and stay connected!
8 ways to be a humanitarian in your community every day
Once you’ve connected with local nonprofits and opened your eyes to the needs of your community, here are some starting points for taking action.
Donate Blood
If you’re looking for something to do with your spare time, consider donating blood. It takes less than two minutes and there are more than 40,000 blood drives every day across the United States. You can also donate plasma, platelets, and red cells.
Volunteer at a Charity or Nonprofit
There are so many charities out there that need help, it may feel overwhelming to pick just one or two to support through volunteer work. Do your research to find out more about their values, program goals, and support needs as you select a non-profit to support.
And remember, you have your whole life to volunteer. While you may be selecting one or two charities to begin with, you aren’t saying “no” to the others in your community - you’re just saying, “you’ll be next!”
Help Out with a Local Food Drive
If you’re looking for a local food drive, consider starting one at your workplace or in your neighborhood. Get your neighbors involved and simply collect canned goods and nonperishable food items for your local community pantry.
Give Back At Your School or Community Center
There are so many ways to give back to the younger generation in your community. One of the easiest ways to do so is through volunteering at local schools and community centers. Reach out to coordinators there and find what their volunteer and resource needs are.
Be a Coffee Line Hero
While in line at your favorite coffee shop drive through, tell the cashier you’d like to pay for the order of the car behind you. You’ll make their day.
Take a Mentee Under Your Wing
We all crave mentors in our lives, so be the mentor you always wished you had to someone else!
Practice random acts of kindness
Being a humanitarian doesn’t just happen when you donate your time, money or resources to large local causes. It also happens when you make someone smile, when you wave hello, and when you make someone feel seen, heard, and valued.
Practice random acts of kindness like leaving money in the vending machine, baking for a neighbor, planting a tree, sending a letter, leaving encouraging notes for strangers, and simply complimenting someone. Say hello, be present, and look for ways to make someone smile.
Remember, being a humanitarian every day and in your community can feel overwhelming at first. With so many needs and causes, it can be easy to burn out and feel overloaded.
Our best advice is to make humanitarian action a part of your lifestyle and realize it’s not a seasonal effort, but a lifelong intention. It’s not a project, but a way you’re setting out to live. Remember to nurture yourself as you pour from your own cup, and you’ll start to see your world change from the inside out.