On August 19, 2003, 22 United Nations and Relief Agency staff sacrificed their lives while performing humanitarian work at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq. The Canal Hotel was being used as UN headquarters at the time, and the attack was in response to the UN’s initiative to assist Iraq in it’s National Development efforts. The men and women who sacrificed their lives to help others were the epitome of humanitarian, and today we are celebrating them. World Humanitarian Day not only began from the inspiration those heroes dedicated their lives to, but to the hardworking humanitarians that continue to do so today.
Humanitarian workers, otherwise known as aid workers, work and manage projects in areas suffering from hardships such as war, natural disasters, disease, and more. Typically, those who do humanitarian work take charge at the front-lines, making them vulnerable to injury and other hardship. Jobs in the humanitarian and aid worker fields can include social workers, nurses and doctors, foreign aid workers, and more. These jobs depend on communication, dedication, and empathy. Humanitarian workers act as real heroes, dedicating their lives to service and aid.
The information listed above is considered a “traditional” definition of humanitarian workers, but we as LtN believe that every human can be a humanitarian. Humanitarian work can be done through little acts in daily life - holding the door open, teaching someone a new skill, being a good listener, and more. To LtN, humanitarians are those who simply seek to help support others, through everyday acts or dedicating their lives to it. Each humanitarian act makes a difference, and anyone can be a humanitarian.
Just as humanitarian workers dedicate their lives to helping and serving others, LtN does the same in it’s programs. We work diligently to assist communities with their education programs, to immerse the communities in lacrosse, and to support them through the learning of life-skills, the development of pre-existing abilities, and more. We value human connection and the empathy that comes from building relationships, just as humanitarian workers do. Here at LtN, we celebrate humanitarian workers for all that they do, and recognize the bravery and resilience that they demonstrate everyday. (mentioning opening up ways for volunteers to do humanitarian work through us, etc)
There are many ways to celebrate World Humanitarian Day and to appreciate those who do humanitarian work. One way to celebrate is to thank all of the humanitarian workers that you know; give them a call, shoot them a text, make a post, and just let them know you see the hard work that they dedicate, and appreciate it. Another way to celebrate is to dedicate yourself to a humanitarian cause. This can be done through donations, spreading awareness, being an active participant in local humanitarian work in your community, and more.
There are many ways to demonstrate appreciation, but the most important part of World Humanitarian Day is simply recognition. The smallest things can make the biggest difference, and it’s important to remember that everyone can be a hero, all it takes is a little bravery and dedication. Appreciate what others can do, and think of all the things you can do for others. Happy World Humanitarian Day, Lacrosse the Nations is thankful for all that you do!