Non-profits make the world a better place by focusing on important causes and working on multiple levels to address social issues. While planning your yearly calendar, it is important to take note of the days important to your mission.

Awareness Days are Internationally or nationally recognized days or weeks marking a particular event or cause in order to promote and bring awareness and action towards a topic of social importance. 

We have compiled a list of days to help you plan your Nonprofit content strategy for October.

Oct 2: International Day of Non Violence

First discovered in 2007

The United Nations observes 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian freedom fighter, leader, and pioneer of the philosophy of Non-Violence. The objective of the day is to spread awareness about the idea of non-violence through education.

A perfect day to plan a fundraising campaign for nonprofits working against any type of violence.

Oct 3: World Habitat Day

First discovered in 1986

Every year the United Nations recognizes the first Monday of October as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state and welfare of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The day is also intended to remind the world that everyone has the power and the responsibility to shape the future of towns and cities.

This year's theme is "Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind" which looks at the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements.

Oct 4: World Animal Day

First World Animal Day was celebrated by 5000 people in Germany, in 1925.

World Animal Day is annually celebrated on October 4th honoring the Feast Day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology and animals, a customary day for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals.

The motive of World Animal day is to unite animal welfare advocates and activists from every part of the world to unite their voices and raise awareness around the requirements to make the world a better place for all animals.

With 1000+ events happening on World Animal Day each year, it now has 93 ambassadors in more than 73 countries.

Oct 5: World Teachers' Day

First proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966.

A global day dedicated to celebrating teachers who are transforming lives with their power of knowledge and also reflecting on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and rethink the way ahead for the profession globally.

Crowdera thinks every nonprofit should celebrate this day to appreciate their efforts in preaching good to society.

Oct 6: World Cerebral Palsy Day

First created in 2012 by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance

Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common physical disabilities that mainly affects children. October 6th is to educate people about cerebral palsy and express affected people's rights. It affects more than 17 Million people all around the world.

Oct 7: World Smile Day

Become an official day in 1999

Do you know this yellow smiley face?

The first Friday of October is World Smile Day marking a creation of a smiley by artist Harvey Ball. This face is the ‘Father of Smiley Emojis’ we use today. This day is to celebrate and encourage more acts of kindness with the motto “Enhancing this world, one smile at a time.”

Oct 8: World Mental Health Day

First commemorated in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized World Mental Health Day as a global day to familiarize the world with mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma related to this topic.

Oct 10: World Homeless Day

First marked in 2010.

The concept of 'World Homeless Day' emerged from online discussions among people working to respond to homelessness from various parts of the world. Since then it is observed in every continent except Antarctica.

The main purpose is to highlight and educate people about issues of homelessness.

Oct 11: International Day of the Girl

Initiated by Plan International in 2012.

While there has long been an International Women’s Day and an International Day of the Child, none of them specifically recognize the special challenges and concerns regarding the girl child; the position of girls who are discriminated against simply for being young and female.

The observation supports more opportunities for girls and increases awareness about gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based on their gender like access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence, and forced child marriage

Oct 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Observed since 1993.

In 1987, thousands of people came together and gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected.

This day is an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty.

Oct 20: World Values Day

First started in 2016.

World Values Day is now an international day started by the UK Values Alliance as an annual campaign. While the UK Values Alliance remains the main driver and organizer of World Values Day, it does so in collaboration with over 100 other like-minded organizations who help and support the campaign around the world.

Oct 24: United Nations Day

Established in 1945.

A symbol of hope for global unity, the world celebrates United Nations Day on 24th October, marking the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the UN Charter entered into force. This day is a perfect opportunity to amplify the UN's common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided us for the past 76 years.

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