One of the biggest stars in U.S. pop music — Beyoncé — is lending her voice to promote World Humanitarian Day August 19. Beyoncé has joined the United Nations in a campaign it is calling “I was here,” seeking to win commitments from 1 billion people that they will perform some act, large or small, to help someone on World Humanitarian Day.
“One day, one message, 1 billion people taking action for each other,” Beyoncé says in an online video promoting the campaign.
Beyoncé will also be giving an August 19 New York performance to publicize World Humanitarian Day, an annual recognition for thousands of humanitarian workers who care for people harmed by natural disasters, conflicts or other emergencies.
The United Nations has a website to offer suggestions on how people might help, linking the public to such agencies as the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the U.N. Refugee Agency. Private groups, such as Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee, are also partners.