The United Nations General Assembly has designated September 5, the anniversary of Saint Mother Teresa’s passing, as the International Day of Charity, through a special resolution.
The International Day of Charity aims to raise awareness and mobilize individuals, NGOs, and stakeholders worldwide to help others through voluntary and philanthropic activities.
This day also recognizes the role of charities in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering within and across nations, while honoring the extraordinary contribution of Saint Mother Teresa.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September 2015, acknowledges that the eradication of poverty in all its forms is the greatest global challenge and an essential requirement for sustainable development. The Agenda also calls for a spirit of global solidarity, from small enterprises to large cooperatives and civil society organizations, focusing on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.
The date September 5 was chosen to commemorate the death anniversary of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
Born as Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, she was a renowned Albanian humanitarian. On October 19, 2003, she was beatified by the Vatican, and on September 4, 2016, Pope Francis declared her a Saint.
For over 45 years, she devoted her life to the poor, sick, and orphans:
- Cared for 7,500 children across 60 schools
- Treated 960,000 patients in 213 dispensaries
- Supported 47,000 leprosy victims in 54 clinics
- Provided shelter for 3,400 abandoned elderly in 20 homes
- Adopted 160 illegitimate and orphaned children
Saint Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997, in Kolkata, India, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and service that continues to inspire the world.
