Lululemon Is Helping the UN’s Humanitarian Aid Workers Take Care of Themselves

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

By Melissa Locker

In the podcast Awake at Night, Melissa Fleming, the chief spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), explores what it takes to be a humanitarian worker in some of the world’s most difficult and dangerous situations. The stories are heartbreaking and harrowing and utterly fascinating. Humanitarian aid workers have to be incredibly mentally tough to spend every day trying to make the world a little better for people facing their darkest hours. While most aid workers are happy to help disaster victims, refugees, displaced persons, and families find a path forward, it’s tough work. PTSD, anxiety, and stress-related illnesses are all well-known side effects of humanitarian work.

Now aid workers are getting a little help to take care of themselves.

The United Nations Foundation along with the athleisure-wear brand Lululemon created Peace on Purpose, a program that provides UN development and humanitarian workers with yoga and mindfulness training to help counteract stress, strengthen leadership, and build resiliency. According to Calvin McDonald, Lululemon’s CEO, the program was created specifically with the needs of humanitarian workers in mind.

Photo courtesy of Tumisu.

Source: Fast Company (link opens in a new window)

Tags
global development, public-private partnerships