What are our motives to help others?

There are a number of ways in which we can help others.

By ‘helping’, we usually mean to make it easier or possible for someone to do something by offering services or resources. In our context, it usually means doing so for free, or at least at minimal cost (not for profit). We can:

• Give time and support
• Take action (volunteer, make or donate useful items, actively raise money, campaign for a cause)
• Give money

Your Task

Can you think of a time you helped others? What were your reasons for helping and what were the results?

Reflect on another situation (humanitarian response) and try to explore/list the range of motives as perceived by yourself, other responders and the people in need.