Belinda Hellerlé Smith has dedicated herself to helping people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, offering support to families, survivors, vulnerable residents and others in need.
A family is confronted by sudden death. A survivor of abuse needs a safe way forward. An elderly resident is alone and overwhelmed. A household has lost essentials in a flood. A frightened pet is wandering through traffic. She has seen it all.
As chairperson of the Greenwood Park SAPS CPF Sub Forum 4, a member of the Independent Crisis Team, community activist and coordinator, Hellerlé Smith has spent years meeting people in moments of fear, grief and uncertainty.
Yet, when asked what makes someone a humanitarian, she does not begin with titles or organisations.
“To me, a humanitarian is someone who sees a need and chooses to act. It is about serving others with compassion, dignity and kindness, regardless of their background, circumstances or ability to give anything in return,” she said.
As World Humanitarian Day is observed on Wednesday, 19 August, her work offers a window into quieter humanitarianism, the kind that unfolds in homes, at accident scenes and when people simply need another person to stay.
Her understanding of service began at home, shaped by her late mother.
“I have always believed that we are called to serve others, and my late mother was a daily example of what it means to live a life of service,” she said.
Through the CPF and Independent Crisis Team, Hellerlé Smith and fellow volunteers assist survivors of crime and gender-based violence, grieving families, vulnerable residents, people affected by sudden deaths, serious crashes and traumatic incidents.
“The first thing most people need is to feel safe. They need reassurance that they are being heard, believed and supported,” she said.
“Sometimes the work is practical, helping someone access counselling, guiding a family through tragedy, checking on an elderly resident or connecting a survivor with support services. Sometimes, the call for help has four paws. Lost or roaming pets are reported through community networks, with volunteers helping secure animals, circulate
photographs, arrange microchip scans and reunite pets with their families,” she added.
During the 2022 Durban floods, that same community spirit expanded into relief efforts, with residents donating clothing, linen, household goods and food while businesses contributed financially.
But Hellerlé Smith believes some of the greatest needs are almost invisible: loneliness, grief, food insecurity, unemployment, new mothers feeling isolated and elderly residents living alone.
“You do not need a title, a committee position or a large donation to make a difference. A lift to a doctor. A meal. A phone call. Help with shopping. A conversation. Small acts, perhaps. But not to the person who needs them. While people may not always remember the details of a crisis, they will remember how they were treated during it,” she said.
Her message to Durban North this World Humanitarian Day is simple: “Be the neighbour you would hope to have in a time of need, because sometimes humanitarianism begins with one question: How can I help?”
