International Day of Charity

Every year on September 5, we celebrate International Day of Charity! It’s a day to recognise the power of charity in creating positive change and the importance of giving and supporting those in need.

From community-based and nationwide protection services to humanitarian responses and international crises, many charities are working to improve the lives of children and create a sustainable future for all. For us at ChildFund, every day is a chance to support children and young people living in vulnerable circumstances. We work with families, communities, and local non-government organisations (NGOs) to provide the resources and opportunities needed to create a brighter future for all.

Join us in raising awareness about International Day of Charity – donate, volunteer, or spread the word! We can create a ripple effect that brings positive change for future generations.

Celebrate Charity and Change Lives on International Day of Charity

Not to be confused with World Charity Day (celebrated in different countries on various dates), International Day of Charity is an UN-recognised global day dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the vital work of charitable organisations.

At ChildFund Australia, our work is guided by local community challenges and needs, alongside global concerns outlined by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unfamiliar with the SDGs? No problem! Here’s a brief overview:

• The SDGs are a series of 17 goals created by the United Nations and adopted by 193 countries in 2015.
• Through sustainable (economic, environmental, and social) development, their overall objective is to create a better world, and a better life for all, by 2030.
• A powerful and inspirational set of goals, which has given the international community a framework for tackling the many challenges confronting humanity.

The SDGs are a blueprint to help us, and other charitable organisations, work towards eradicating poverty in all its forms. ChildFund’s programs directly address several SDGs, including poverty reduction (SDG 1), quality education (SDG 4), and gender equality (SDG 5).

A quality education is every girl’s right

A quality education is every girl’s right, but not every girl’s reality. Today, 130 million girls are still denied an education worldwide. They face barriers such as poverty, a lack of hygiene facilities and harmful views about gender. It’s something we see across the countries in which we work, especially for girls living in vulnerable circumstances.

Chenda* (pictured above) was in Grade 2 when she learnt her family could no longer afford to keep her in school. Her parents were struggling to make ends meet, travelling to neighbouring Thailand in search of work. Chenda wanted to stay in school, but her parents couldn’t afford books, uniforms, or transport to get her there and back.

Instead, Chenda stayed at home with her grandfather. She started to do chores at home to pass the time. “I wanted to go to school like other children,” Chenda said. “After doing housework, I had nothing to do. I was unhappy.”

Our girls’ education appeal has helped girls like Chenda get back to school, giving local teachers training and support, improving classrooms and building school playgrounds and toilets. ChildFund’s partner on the ground, Children’s Action for Development, in Cambodia supported Chenda with learning materials and helped her return to school.

“I now have a school bag, pen, writing book, pencil, shoes, and school uniform,” Chenda said. “I was very happy the day my grandfather told me the teacher had asked him to send me back.”

Today, Chenda enjoys going to school and has made many new friends. Her favourite subject is Khmer literacy, and she has enrolled in extracurricular English language classes, which take place every day after school.

A new water system means more playtime!

Community-led initiatives are at the heart of many of our projects providing a better opportunity for positive, long-term outcomes for children and their families, as well as the wider community. We have seen this across Timor-Leste, where water is scare and can be hard to access.  A lack of safe water and sanitation is also affecting children and young people’s learning and basic needs at school. With support from ChildFund Timor-Leste, a new water system was installed in the small village of Puno. Much to the delight of the community.

Children living in Puno used to spend hours walking to collect water, putting their safety at risk. But thanks to the hard work of the Puno community and our project team, the village now has a reliable water system. The water system serves 34 homes and around 200 people. This means that local community members like Carolina, a mother of eight children and teacher, can cook healthy meals, shower, wash clothes and provide water for the family’s farm animals and crops. It also means that, instead of spending hours walking to a stream to collect clean water, her students have more energy to focus on their studies, and more time for play!

History of International Day of Charity

To honour the important work that many charities do, the United Nations General Assembly officially added International Charity Day to our calendars in 2012, nominating 5 September as the annual date to recognise and celebrate the power of charity in creating positive change. The day aims to increase compassion and solidarity among people, encourage public support for charitable organisations and individuals, and raise awareness about philanthropic endeavours and the continued need to alleviate humanitarian crises and human suffering within and among nations.

But why 5 September? As a day established to unite and mobilise us all in the power of ‘doing good’—to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities—the UN chose a date to commemorate the death of one of history’s most iconic charitable figures, Mother Theresa.

It makes perfect sense, given that Mother Teresa (a renowned humanitarian and Noble Prize winner for her heroic acts of kindness, charity and struggle against poverty) has and continues to inspire individuals and organisations worldwide to become more charitable in their work and day-to-day lives.

How to Celebrate International Day of Charity

There is no one size fits all when it comes to charitable giving. And the same goes for celebrating International Day of Charity—a day that reminds us that even small acts of generosity can collectively create a significant impact.

There are plenty of great ways to help raise awareness about International Day of Charity and support the work and causes of some of your favourite charitable organisations (like ChildFund). Here are just a few ways to get involved:

Spread the word

This International Day of Charity help remind your friends, family or colleagues about the power of charitable giving by sharing a story from children and communities impacted by ChildFund programs. Not sure where to start? Check out our social media platforms (here, here, here and here) and reshare your favourite posts or send a link to one of our stories via email or text. To help amplify the importance of charitable giving, don’t forget to add tags to your social posts. Our top picks are #InternationalDayofCharity, #ChildFund and #ChildFundAustralia.

Inspire those around you

Be a catalyst for change this International Day of Charity, and beyond. Organise a fundraising event with friends, family, or colleagues to celebrate and raise funds for your favourite charity or a cause close to your heart. You could host or attend a charity auction or donation drive or even speak to your work about implementing a volunteer day where employees contribute their time to a local charity.

Make a donation

Donate directly to ChildFund-supported programs and appeals. You can help to shift the forces that keep children in poverty and help transform lives this International Day of Charity by donating monthly to ChildFund Australia initiatives or by purchasing one of our lifesaving Gifts for Good. Your donation will help to give children in some of the most vulnerable circumstances the essentials of health, education and safety. 

FAQs About International Day of Charity

Mark your calendars for 5 September 2024, and join ChildFund—and millions of individuals, organisations, and communities around the world—in celebrating International Day of Charity and working together to create lasting change. Every donation, volunteer hour, or act of advocacy can contribute to a better future for children.

*Names have been changes to protect individuals’ identities.