Each year, World Humanitarian Day is commemorated on August 19, a day to celebrate and pay tribute to aid workers who help the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly to remember the 22 UN and relief agency staff that lost their lives in a bombing in Baghdad 13 years ago, August 19 has also become a day to celebrate the humanitarian spirit that mobilizes people to help those who are suffering.

In honor of World Humanitarian Day, we asked students - and future humanitarians- to answer this question: What would you like to do to help people around the world during crises, such as natural disasters and war? Blogs, videos, and photo essays streamed in from around the world, and we are excited to announce our winner: Kavitha Rajagopal from Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development in India. Check out her video, “Humanitarian Heroes. ”

We are are also pleased to announce our runner up: Melanie Cushman from the University of Southern California. Click here to read her blog post "Helping Humanitarians Save Lives."

For more than half a century, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance—on behalf of the American people—has provided humanitarian assistance around the world to help those in need. Our mandate is to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the social and economic impact of disasters worldwide. When a disaster strikes, we work with our partners to provide life-saving aid like safe drinking water, emergency medical care, shelter, nutrition for infants and children, and improved sanitation to prevent the spread of disease.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our contest. We continue to be inspired by your ideas, commitment, and drive to make a difference to those in need, as you continue to pursue life-saving humanitarian work. If you’d like to follow our latest disaster relief efforts, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.