Humanitarianism: A Daily Workout

When I read about the White Helmets in Syria, about medical teams struggling to contain the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or when our director in Afghanistan tells me about the latest bombings in his neighbourhood and death threats against his staff – my first reaction is to be filled with the deepest admiration for their bravery and commitment… often followed by the thought: “I couldn’t do that”.

World Humanitarian Day, on 19th August, is dedicated to honouring those who work to save lives and alleviate suffering in some of the most difficult situations on earth – whilst at the same time, remembering our own responsibility to support those caught up in global crises.

Sometimes, I think these two important messages can work against each other. We idealise heroic ‘Humanitarians’ – aid workers, medical staff and volunteers who risk their lives for others with the purest of motivations –  and humanitarianism becomes more distant from our everyday lives.

Few people will say that they don’t want to help those suffering in the world. But the daunting proliferation of armed conflicts, mass displacement and environmental disasters –  and the courage and selflessness that this act of helping seems to demand – can make humanitarianism seem like a superhuman task, rather than a human one.

For me, making humanitarianism personal, practical and urgent starts with remembering that those humanitarian workers we see on the news are NOT superhumans – they are ordinary people like you and me.

This is not to diminish their actions – in fact, it makes them all the more remarkable. Humanitarianism is not a special gene, an innate talent or magical quality that some are born with.

Instead of a lofty and unattainable ideal, I want to try thinking of humanitarianism as exercising a muscle that all of us have in our bodies.

It’s an extension of the small acts of kindness and compassion we all practice already, every single day, with our friends and family, the people we know and love. Extending our remit to care and protect others, beyond our own ‘tribe’, to encompass strangers – to encompass the whole of humanity – requires attention, focus and hard work. But it’s something we are all built to do.

So, instead of a lofty and unattainable ideal, I want to try thinking of humanitarianism as exercising a muscle that all of us have in our bodies. Those working on the frontlines of conflict and poverty may be the Olympians, but we can all train these muscles to make them stronger and more effective at doing their job.

Inspired by my Women for Women International co-workers in conflict-affected countries, and all of those who dedicate their lives to humanitarian work – these are my three key exercises for building some humanitarian muscle in our daily lives. 

It becomes easier and more instinctive to act in other peoples’ interests when they are part of your ‘tribe’. Humanitarians see all of humanity as their ‘tribe’. When you read or watch the global news, stop for a moment and consider: these people you’re learning about are just like you and me, they have dreams and aspirations.

Those dreams connect us. Think of them as your sisters. That’s the starting point for feeling a sense of responsibility, and ultimately, taking action on behalf of people you don’t know.

At Women for Women International, we talk about Sisterhood as a movement for equality and social change that welcomes all genders and identities, and is built on solidarity, human connection, and optimism for a better future. Seeing yourself as part of a global movement can be a source of strength and reassurance when problems feel overwhelming – as well as an important reminder you that others need you, too – including people you’ve never met.

Women in South Kivu identified land rights and reproductive rights as the major obstacles in their lives – they know that without control over the land they farm, and without control over their own bodies, poverty and inequality will always persist. So, the Change Agents have been focussing on shifting these underlying barriers – building awareness of the issues within the community, lobbying decision-makers, and equipping women to take action themselves.

One of the women who participated in a recent training course run by her community’s Change Agents is Jacqueline. She told my colleague, Aloys: 

Thanks to the change agent trainings, I was able to defend my right to inheritance like my brothers after the death of our father, and I succeeded. In addition, before the training, I gave birth each year, now I have convinced my husband to practice birth spacing.

To me, the success of this project shows how effective humanitarianism – the kind that creates sustainable change for those in crisis situations – begins with listening to those affected, and providing support to help them to empower themselves. This means being an ally, not a hero.

Be an ally by taking the time to dig deeper and understand the broader picture. Listen to the voices that are often silenced. Give them a platform to speak for themselves. Rather than dividing the world into humanitarians and recipients of humanitarian assistance, remember: we’re all in this together.

My Stand With Her sister, Yudita, constantly reminds me that our similarities are more powerful than what separates us, and that I can make a difference in someone’s life – even when the scale of the world’s problems seems unsurmountable.

We need to use every fibre of our humanitarian muscle to recognise ourselves in others and focus on these shared connections.

Often, people caught up in conflict, poverty and disaster are portrayed as a faceless, voiceless multitude – as representatives of the ‘crisis’ they find themselves in, rather than individuals with hopes and dreams, with loved ones they care about, with stories to tell. We need to use every fibre of our humanitarian muscle to recognise ourselves in others and focus on these shared connections.

You can practice doing this by seeking out those personal stories and looking for the points of connection. By using your imagination. By changing the language you use. Think of it as a challenge, the next time you open a newspaper or turn on the TV news. As a humanitarian, your job is to re-humanise when faced with statistics, generalisations and jargon.

One thing is certain – the world today could do with more humanitarians. So let’s broaden the definition and step up to the task ourselves. This World Humanitarian Day, why not join me, skip the gym and work on your humanitarianism instead.