Their life and actions guarantee the safe existence of others. Thanks to their devotion and courage tens, hundreds, thousands of people were spared a terrible fate. Neither wars nor natural disasters nor terrorism can stop them. In Africa, Middle East, Latin America and other ends of the world they invest not only their time, resources and security but also the most valuable – their life – to make the world a better place to live.

Christina Noble is an Irish children's rights campaigner, charity worker and founder of the Christina Noble Children's Foundation who transformed the lives of 700,000 impoverished children around the world.

These people live next to us. They are modern day heroes.