In a World of Greed and Individualism, Be a Mother Teresa

'A life not lived for others is not a life.' Unfortunately, these words attributed to Mother Teresa seem to have lost some of their meaning in an era increasingly defined by social media, robotics and artificial intelligence, where individual success and material gain can easily take precedence over the wellbeing of others. Have you ever wondered why, in recent years, people seem increasingly consumed by greed and selfishness, sometimes betraying, exploiting and mistreating others for material gain without regard for the essence of our shared humanity? We should not, however, lose hope or despair. The legacy of Mother Teresa remains a timely reminder of the virtues that can hold humanity together: compassion, humility, mercy, forgiveness, generosity and kindness. On September 5, it was laughter and merry-making in northern Uganda as we shared a heartfelt meal with vulnerable children in Karamoja who continue to struggle with hunger, water stress and a harsh, scorching climate. I joined hands with fellow generous colleagues to donate tons of food, maize and sorghum seedlings, post-harvest grain equipment, clothing, scholastic materials and financial support to vulnerable communities in the Karamoja region as we marked the International Day of Charity in honour of Mother Teresa's legacy. The United Nations designated September 5 as the International Day of Charity in 2012, commemorating the death of Mother Teresa, the Catholic nun who dedicated much of her life to serving the poorest and most vulnerable people in India and beyond. Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in present-day North Macedonia, spent decades in India caring for the hungry, homeless, sick and marginalised through the Missionaries of Charity, the organisation she founded in 1950. She could have remained within the privileges of a relatively comfortable life or continued her career as a teacher. Instead, she answered what she described as a 'call within a call' to serve the poorest directly, with dignity and humility. Her simple philosophy remains powerful: 'If you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one.' Sadly, the values she championed — sacrifice, generosity, humility and love — are increasingly being eroded by individualism and selfishness. These vices contribute to conflict, inequality, suffering and hunger in many parts of the world, from Gaza and Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine. Even within some faith-based institutions, the ideals of pastoral service and compassion have at times given way to exploitation and the pursuit of material interests. Yet Mother Teresa's legacy demonstrates what can happen when compassion is organised and sustained. From a small congregation, the Missionaries of Charity grew into a global organisation operating in more than 100 countries. It continues to provide care and support to vulnerable people through homes, schools, healthcare initiatives and other charitable programmes. Mother Teresa also established homes such as Nirmal Hriday, meaning 'Pure Heart', and responded to humanitarian crises beyond India, demonstrating her belief that compassion should know no borders. Her life is also a reminder of the transformative role women can play in advancing social justice, volunteerism and public service. Her example helped draw global attention to the importance of charitable organisations and volunteers in addressing poverty, social exclusion and human suffering. By institutionalising charity and encouraging volunteerism, societies can help tackle poverty, hunger and inequality while restoring human dignity and contributing to sustainable development. Volunteerism is not merely an act of personal kindness. It can be an important pillar of national development because it mobilises citizens to address problems that governments and institutions cannot solve alone. If Mother Teresa were alive today, she would likely be standing alongside the victims of today's humanitarian crises — feeding hungry children, comforting refugees and caring for the sick and wounded. Her message was always that compassion and peace must ultimately prevail over hatred and war. As she once said: 'It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.' Charity has the power to build schools, support hospitals, establish rehabilitation centres, create livelihoods and restore hope where despair appears overwhelming. The International Day of Charity, therefore, should not merely be a day for remembering Mother Teresa. It should be a call to action. We do not all have to establish global organisations or dedicate our entire lives to humanitarian work. Sometimes, charity begins with something as simple as feeding one hungry child, helping one struggling family, donating a book to a needy student or giving our time to someone who needs it. Mother Teresa's greatest lesson was that humanity is not measured only by what we possess, but by what we are willing to give to others. In a world increasingly consumed by greed, selfishness and insensitivity to the suffering of others, our collective responsibility is clear: Be a Mother Teresa. Robert Kigongo is a philanthropist and sustainable development analyst