Non-Governmental Organizations Addressing Humanitarian Needs

7. Individuals can participate through non-governmental organizations to help address humanitarian needs.

Civic participation includes engaging with both governmental entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Examples of NGOs include:

• Doctors Without Borders;
• Oxfam International;
• Children’s Defense Fund; and
• Heifer International.

NGOs provide multiple methods of engagement for individuals and groups outside of formal governmental interaction between nations. These organizations provide an opportunity for people to cooperate on an international scale to address humanitarian needs.
Humanitarian needs arise from man-made and natural disasters. Such needs include threats to human life, human suffering, and insults to human dignity. Humanitarian needs can be addressed through various forms of humanitarian aid including medical treatments, food assistance and legal representation.

Describe how non-governmental organizations address humanitarian needs.
Participate in an activity with a non-governmental organization to address a specific need.