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Dear Friend,
Celebrate World Humanitarian Day with CARE today by taking a moment to honor the hundreds of women and men dedicated to helping others around the world as well as those who have been injured or killed during the course of their work.
CARE is so proud of the thousands of men and women who put their lives at risk every single day to help alleviate poverty and suffering for so many in Haiti, Pakistan and other countries around the world. Mildrede Beliard, who works for CARE in Haiti, is one such person.
Mildrede credits her mother, a widow and mother of eight, for inspiring her to care for others. "She fought to give us a proper education," says Mildrede. "My mother taught us to love humanity. Even when we had no food, she would find some tiny bit for a starving neighbor."
The earthquake that devastated Haiti late in the afternoon of January 12, 2010, was pivotal for Mildrede. It destroyed her family's home and, even more heartbreaking, it claimed the lives of so many of Mildrede's closest friends, including her boss and mentor, the director general of Haiti's Ministry of Women's Affairs.
Mildrede's losses mirror those suffered by so many people in her impoverished country. She could have been discouraged and brought to despair; instead, the tragedy fortified Mildrede's spirit.
She joined CARE soon after the earthquake to dedicate herself to helping her community rebuild.
"CARE involves people. If we need a canal, CARE gives us the material, but we will dig the canal ourselves," she explains. "Help, but don't do it for us."
And that's what humanitarian workers around the world do — they inspire hope, provide comfort to those in pain and help people rebuild their lives, families and communities with ownership and pride.
I invite you to watch a short film about brave women and men like Mildrede, who carry out humanitarian aid around the world every day united by their commitment to helping others.
Thank you for joining CARE in celebrating World Humanitarian Day today.
Sincerely,
Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH
President and CEO, CARE
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