By Akelo Michael
19 August 2026
Today we honour the humanitarian workers who continue to stand alongside communities facing conflict, displacement and crisis. This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme, Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities, reminds us that effective humanitarian action begins with people closest to the challenges, responding to the needs of their own communities.
At Bill Crews International, we are privileged to work alongside local sister organisations whose staff and volunteers continue to serve others, often in incredibly difficult circumstances. Their leadership, resilience and commitment are what make lasting change possible.
One of those people is Laura Htway, Program Manager at our sister organisation PlayOnside, which works alongside migrant and refugee communities on the Thailand–Myanmar border.
Standing alongside communities
In and around Mae Sot, communities affected by conflict and displacement continue to face challenges including access to education, protection, livelihoods and psychosocial wellbeing. PlayOnside uses the transformative power of sport to create safe spaces where young people can connect, build resilience and develop a sense of belonging.
Humanitarian work extends beyond responding to immediate emergencies. It is also about dignity, stability and creating opportunities for people to shape their own futures.
From refugee to humanitarian leader
Laura’s connection to this work is personal. She left Myanmar in 2008 and arrived in a refugee camp when she was ten years old. At 19, she began assisting female coaches at PlayOnside. She eventually became the organisation’s first female coach and has since progressed into program management. Her journey reflects the importance of locally led humanitarian action. People closest to a crisis are not simply recipients of support; they can become the people leading the response.
Through PlayOnside, young people are given opportunities to develop leadership, while girls are encouraged to participate and lead. As Laura puts it, “Coaching isn’t just about skills, but leadership”.
The power of partnership
Through the support of Bill Crews International, PlayOnside is able to continue delivering programs for communities along the Thailand–Myanmar border. As Laura explained, “We cannot do those things if we don’t have the support from you guys.”
BCF’s support allows locally led organisations to continue the work they know their communities need: creating safe spaces, strengthening resilience and giving young people opportunities to participate and lead.
What does humanitarian action look like?
Humanitarian action can look different from what we sometimes imagine. It can look like a safe space where a young person can play, connect and feel that they belong. It can look like a girl seeing a woman in a leadership role and recognising that she can lead too. It can look like a child who arrived in a refugee camp becoming a humanitarian leader herself.
During our discussion with Laura, she mentioned the importance of the programs for young girls, saying “[it’s] so important to have women in organisations because (it gives) the girls someone to look up to…. it will encourage them to imagine a future with hope”.
This World Humanitarian Day, we thank Laura, the PlayOnside team and humanitarian workers everywhere whose dedication makes an extraordinary difference in the lives of others. Humanitarian action is ultimately about people — protecting dignity, supporting hope and walking alongside communities when they need it most.
This contribution was submitted via the Congregation of Kindness.
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