International Day of Charity

The International Day of Charity was established to sensitise and mobilise people, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and stakeholders around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities. September 5 was chosen as the International Day of Charity to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for ‘work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace’. She died on September 5, 1997 at the age of 87. In 2011, the Hungarian Parliament and Government initiated the International Day of Charity to enhance visibility, organise special events to increase solidarity, social responsibility and public support for charity. On December 17, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution and proclaimed September 5, the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa as the International Day of Charity. The first International Day of Charity was celebrated in 2013. The International Day of Charity provides a platform for charity related activities all over the world.