Each year on 17th October, people around the world mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The day began on 17 October 1987, when more than 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, the same place where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948. They named extreme poverty as a violation of human rights and committed to standing together to see those rights upheld. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly formally declared 17 October the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
The day asks a practical question: what would it take to end poverty in all its forms? In our work, we see that the answer begins with communities leading the change. Poverty is a systemic issue, rooted in inequities in education, income, health and power. It is not a personal failing, and people experiencing poverty are already building solutions for their families and neighbours.
For Mary MacKillop Today, this day carries a special meaning. On 17 October 2010, Saint Mary MacKillop was canonised in Rome, becoming Australia’s first saint. 16 years on, her legacy still shapes how we work. Mary and the Sisters of Saint Joseph were founded to educate children in poverty, particularly in remote and rural communities where schooling was out of reach. She saw a need and acted on it, even when the path was hard.
Today, that same spirit guides our programs in education, financial inclusion and life skills, delivered with partner communities in Australia, Timor-Leste, Fiji and Peru. Each program is designed with the people we work with, who lead, decide and grow alongside us.
This 17 October, you can be part of this work. Share this story with someone who cares about justice, sign up for our newsletter to follow our partner communities, or give today to support strength-building in the places where it matters most.
