Our work in more than than 40 countries around the world would not be possible without the combined efforts of our global community. Every donor, supporter, partner and team member plays an important role in how nosotros help people in need survive now and thrive for years to come up.

This World Humanitarian 24-hour interval, we honour the many ways that together, we are helping people survive crisis, recover from disasters, and build back stronger than before.

Our staff on the footing — and at our global headquarters — plow ideas into real, tangible change each and every day. And so we asked them: what does beingness a humanitarian mean to you?

Tirhas

Tirhas tsegay portrait
Tirhas Tsegay, learning and communications officer in Uganda helping agronomical and pastoral communities build stronger livelihoods. Photo: Corinna Robbins/Mercy Corps

"For me being a humanitarian means to have human values and an agreement of all human situations that we share, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion and social status. It's working towards mutual homo goals and ensuring we support people with respect and dignity.

My domicile land (Eritrea) has many humanitarian issues merely doesn't allow humanitarian and development agencies in the land. In my work, I get to hear and so many personal stories of what people need and how their lives have inverse. This helps me connect with them on a personal level, which volition hopefully prepare me to aid others in the future and at home in Eritrea.

I love to tell stories, specially individual stories highlighting a community member. It's ever refreshing to hear about what they hope for the future. I feel grateful that my job allows me to bring inspiration to other people as well."

Dia'a

Dia'a al masry pictured with children in jordan
Dia'a Al Masry, monitoring and evaluation officeholder in Hashemite kingdom of jordan, working to help Syrian refugees and Jordanians come together through our disharmonize direction programs. Photograph: Sumaya Agha for Mercy Corps

"Existence a humanitarian means helping people who are suffering and saving lives any time any identify in the world. And so humanitarian work requires being responsible, conscious of the circumstances of other people's lives, and helping them on the basis of demand, without discrimination.

I'k happy to have a job that reflects my values and what I believe in. I'm lucky to make a living working for peace and conflict resolution — this requires integrity, independence and neutrality.

When you lot change another person's life positively and lighten the dark they had, you lot inspire them to be stronger and more than creative by remembering you.

The best part of my task is that it allows me to be role of Mercy Corps' vision of change — I tin reduce the suffering of people and assist them, and also help create long-lasting change."

Clara

Clara ramirez holding a young child
Clara Ramirez, program coordination specialist in Guatemala, working to help mothers and children stay healthy with proper diet and food diversity. Photograph: Corinna Robbins/Mercy Corps

"A humanitarian is able to identify people'south needs and vulnerability with empathy for them. They're passionate near walking the extra mile to help alleviate the suffering of those in the midst of a crisis.

Since the moment I became a humanitarian worker, I have developed a new perspective on everything effectually me and I see the world differently. I am more conscious of people and their daily struggles to survive.

My work is important to me because I know it has a ripple consequence that impacts the lives of many families and vulnerable populations. As a mother, it'due south really of import to inspire my kids to help others and never stay in a condolement zone while others demand a helping hand.

Going to work for Mercy Corps feels like getting together every twenty-four hours with family unit members that happen to have your same vision and purpose. The humanitarian heart of the team members is evident inside the office building too every bit out in the field.

Knowing that considering of our programs, a child won´t go to bed tonight with an empty stomach helps us know that we are existence role of the alter we want to see in the world."

Ibro

Ibro arzika portrait
Ibro Arzika, project officer in Niger, helping pastoralists and dairy farmers increase their production and earn more income to support their families. Photo: Sean Sheridan for Mercy Corps

"Being a humanitarian is helping communities identify their opportunities and challenges, helping them believe in themselves, and look for sustainable answers for real alter.

This task allows me to assist my family and to build my personality in the community. This work has allowed me to know the everyday realities of communities.

My favorite part of my work is when I atomic number 82 community assemblies and I explain our program vision. I like working with communities and seeing how communities bring together our piece of work.

Today humanity is facing a series of humanitarian threats: global warming, farthermost poverty, the depression status of women, rapid population growth, terrorism. That'south why humanitarians have to develop new approaches in order to bring answers."

Mirvat

Mirvat rifaii portrait
Mirvat Rifaii, project officeholder in Lebanon, working to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services to Syrian refugees in the Bekaa valley. Photograph: Corinna Robbins/Mercy Corps

"Being a humanitarian means trying to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain and protect human dignity — during and in the aftermath of man-made crises and natural disasters.

The work that we do gives me immense cocky-esteem. We are leading a much more than prosperous life compared to the destitute and so nosotros are obliged to give a helping mitt.

I count myself very lucky to be a part of a program that is providing the bones needs for the most vulnerable people. I go a lot of satisfaction when I come across people smile every bit they receive the basic things they used to have in their homes, but are deprived of in their current state of affairs."

Reine

Reine furaha portrait
Reine Furaha, hygiene promoter in DR Congo, working to give displaced people in Goma what they need to keep their families healthy. Photograph: Corinna Robbins/Mercy Corps

"To me, being a humanitarian ways seeking solutions and advocating to help people who face difficulties. We want to salve endangered lives, reduce poverty, and promote human dignity.

My work is very of import to me personally because it enables me to ensure my family unit'due south survival and allows me to grow intellectually and professionally.

My favorite function of the job is to talk with the people we assistance — to listen to them, to hear about their experiences and challenges."

Mark

Mark ferdig portrait
Mark Ferdig, director of programme operations at Mercy Corps' U.S. headquarters, helping all field teams with logistics and operations then that they tin succeed and create alter. Photo: Miguel Samper for Mercy Corps

"Being a humanitarian ways being empathetic. I'g driven by curiosity to relate and understand the people I work with and for. I desire to sympathize where nosotros come from and what has shaped our world view.

Much of my work has been grounded in my family roots. My family comes from some pretty tough subcontract background in the rural Midwest. I spent a lot of time on the family farm hearing many of the stories and witnessing some of the challenges.

My piece of work has helped me better understand who I am and where I come from. At the aforementioned time, my background has helped me relate to many of the people I've worked with over the years.

Accomplishing things together is exhilarating. There's goose egg better than creating a squad, sometimes from scratch, and watching that team rally, grow and thrive around a common purpose."

Steven

Steven nakana leading staff training
Steven Nakana, curriculum adviser for plan development at Mercy Corps' U.S. headquarters, training staff to efficiently manage programs. Photo: Tom Patterson for Mercy Corps

"For me, a humanitarian is a change agent who is dedicated to helping others less fortunate develop the capacity to transform their lives and communities.

I come from a country that witnessed many decades of conflict, which contributed to high rates of poverty and other social problems. While growing upward, my aim was to be a social change amanuensis and assist accost the challenges that countries similar my native country were facing.

My favorite office of my job is being in the field and interacting or working with our beneficiaries to find solutions to the problems they face.

The piece of work of humanitarians today is challenging — organizations are constantly responding to complex crises, which impact the poorest people. No one organization or state can see the challenges caused past disasters, then working collaboratively with other organizations, governments, and the private sector is a claiming that nosotros have to address."

Su'advertizing

Su'ad jarbawi smiling with arm around a program participant
Su'advertizement Jarbawi, humanitarian response director in Republic of iraq, working to assistance families displaced past conflict survive and observe condom shelter. Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps

"To be a humanitarian is to wish for those around you and the communities you are working with what you wish for yourself. Information technology is to believe in the infinite capacity of human beings to create a better tomorrow and to seize that and piece of work to create a better tomorrow. Information technology is to treat others similar you wish to be treated.

It is a privilege to be working in a field that aligns with my personal values. Information technology's a rare gift to exist able to give dorsum in a greater sense and on a global scale. I believe in the human being volition to not simply survive but too surmount shocks like natural disasters, wars and chronic conflict.

My favorite office of my work is the fact that it is all most tangible human being interaction. I do a amend job if I tin chronicle to or understand what makes the people I'1000 working with feel comfortable and satisfied, what aspirations they take and how they foresee their future.

Being a humanitarian confronts you with the worst of humanity and the worst of nature, and that is a constant challenge. How nosotros handle the dismay and turn it into a positive force for modify volition look different for each individual, each community and each crisis. What is important is to build on our previous feel and to never lose sight of a better tomorrow."