Adi Roche
Adi Roche (b.
1955) is a campaigner for peace,
humanitarian aid, and education. Born in
Clonmel,
County Tipperary in
Ireland, and now lives in
Cork.
As Founder and International Executive Director of
Chernobyl Children's Project International, she has worked since 1990 to provide aid to the children of
Belarus, Western
Russia and the
Ukraine.
Under Adi's leadership, Chernobyl Children's Project International has delivered over €60 million
[Ref: Chernobyl Childres Project - About "Since its establishment the Chernobyl Children's Project has delivered over €60 million in direct and indirect humanitarian aid to the Chernobyl region."] to the areas most affected by the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The organization is an international development, medical, and humanitarian that works with children and families who continue to be affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. The organization was founded in Ireland in 1991, and expanded into the
United States in 2001.
Chernobyl Children's Project International has brought over 12,000 children, who live in contaminated region, to Ireland. This program is widely supported by volunteers throughout Ireland. In additional, CCPI supports a
pediatric cardiac surgery program, a
foster family program, community centers, community care and medical programs for famlies living with ill children, a hospice care program, and a nursing program.
Adi was honored by various awards: the
Medal of Francysk Skaryna (by the
Belarusian government), the
European Woman Laureate Award,
Irish Person of the Year, and the
European Person of the Year award, was she keynote speaker at the
United Nations General Session commemorating the 18th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, and was appointed to represent NGOs on the Steering Committee of the UN's International Chernobyl Research and Information Network (
ICRIN).
In 1997, she ran for the office of
President of Ireland as a candidate for the
Irish Labour Party. Despite starting as favourite, Roche came fourth out of five candidates with less than 7% of the vote. During the campaign, a number of former workers in The Chernobyl Children's Project set up a campaign to discredit Roche, claiming that she was a bully in the workplace.
Adi and the work of Chernobyl Children's Project International were featured in the 2003
Academy Award winning film "Chernobyl Heart".
*
Chernobyl Children's Project International Home
