Celebrated around the world every year on 27th February, World NGO Day was founded by Marcis Lios Skadman.

The term ‘Non-Governmental Organisation’ was coined by the United Nations in 1945 and the day was first officially observed in 2014 to celebrate the persistent efforts of NGOs in making the world a better place. 

As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness. 

— Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

Types of NGOs 

The World Bank has classified NGOs into two broad types: 

1. Operational NGOs 

NGOs that focus on planning and designing development projects as well their implementation. 

2. Advocacy NGOs 

NGOs that work on particular issues. They seek systematic change by building mass support and by influencing laws and government policies. 

In the current fast-paced times where the boundaries of nations have faded making the world a global village, the problems have increased and become manifold as well. Thus giving rise to many NGOs working on several issues. 

On World NGO Day 2022 let us look at the 5 ways in which NGOs helped improve the world. 

1. Disaster Relief. 

NGOs have been providing relief and rehabilitating survivors in the face of wars, riots, and disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, Covid- 19 pandemic, floods and others. People belonging to different economic and social classes are impacted differently by these natural and manmade calamities, with those lower on the strata often doubly impacted. NGOs such as Wishes and Blessings have saved lives by providing relief at the forefront during times of such disasters. Ready to respond within 24 hours of a distress call, the organization has provided relief nationally and internationally in the face of a calamity.

2. Food Security 

The Global Hunger Index (2021) placed India 101 out of 116 countries, thus shedding light on the hunger crises in the country. Thankfully NGOs have come to

the rescue. Many NGOs run programmes targeting hunger and malnutrition. Wishes and Blessings is one such NGO that has under its Daily Meals Programme served over 35 lakh meals and distributed ration kits to the underprivileged throughout the country. 

3. Education 

Education has been recognised as one of the fundamental rights by the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights as well as by the Constitution of India. However, despite free and compulsory elementary education in the country, the government alone has not been able to ensure every child’s access to the same due to a plethora of factors such as the vastness and diversity of population and lack of digitalization. 

NGOs such as Wishes and Blessings have stepped forward to bridge this gap by providing quality education to underprivileged children through its ‘Street to School’, ‘Journey to a New Class’ and ‘Sponsor a Childhood’ Programmes. 

4. Climate Change and Environment Degradation 

One of the major challenges that the planet is facing in the 21st century is climate change and environmental degradation. The loss of approximately 7.1 million forest covers every year coupled with the carbon emissions is one of the many factors disturbing the delicate balance of nature which further impacts every living species and natural resources available. Several NGOs have come up realising the danger we are in and are working for the cause. 

5. Skill Development 

Those working for the welfare of society seek to improve the lives of the underprivileged. However, sustainable improvement in the life of any person can only be achieved through financial security and self-dependence. 

According to CMIE (December 2021), India has 53 million unemployed people, some of the reasons for which are looming poverty, lack of education and access to vocational training. 

Thereby, NGOs help the underprivileged in becoming financially secure and independent and in taking charge of their lives by providing skill development and vocational training on communication skills, computers, stitching, embroidery and others. Above mentioned were a few of the numerous ways in which NGOs play a pivotal role in the welfare of the citizens. On this NGO Day let us applaud the persistent efforts of the nonprofits to bring change and help them in whatever capacity we can.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”- Helen Keller

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