Adi Roche

Adi Roche (born 1955) is a campaigner for peace, humanitarian aid, and education. Born in Clonmel, County Tipperary in Ireland, she now lives in Cork with her husband, Seán Dunne (a teacher).

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 Ukraine.

Under Adi's leadership, Chernobyl Children's Project International has delivered over €60 million [Ref: [http://www.chernobyl-international.com/whatwedo/default.asp 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 organisation is an international development, medical, and humanitarian one that works with children and families who continue to be affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. The organisation 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 regions to Ireland. This programme is widely supported by volunteers throughout Ireland. In additional, CCPI supports a paediatric cardiac surgery programme, a foster family programme, community centres, community care and medical programmes for families living with ill children, a hospice care programme, and a nursing programme.

Adi was honoured 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 stood for the office of President of Ireland as a coalition candidate for the Irish Green Party, Democratic Left and the Irish Labour Party. Despite starting as favourite, Roche came fourth out of five candidates with less than 7% of the vote following accusations of bullying made by former staff and associates of the Chernobyl Children's Project [Ref: [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E1D61F3BF935A1575AC0A961958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/W/Women "Irishwomen Find Niche (And It's Not In Kitchen), Sept 26 1997] New York Times] [Ref: [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:7pw630MWYHkJ:www.irishnews.com/pageacc.asp%3Ftser1%3Dser%26par%3Dben%26sid%3D219881+adi+roche+bully&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=uk "'Stalinist' Roche In Shock Bully Rumpus" Sept 23 1997] Irish News] [Ref: [http://republican-news.org/archive/1997/September25/25rev.html "Presidential candidate Adi Roche is at the centre of controversy over claims that she was a bully to staff in the Chernobyl charity which she lead" Sept 22 1997] An Phoblacht] [Ref: [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:1XGTBRi6wFoJ:www.irishnews.com/pageacc.asp%3Ftser1%3Dser%26par%3Dben%26sid%3D220595+adi+roche+stalinist&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=14&gl=uk "Roche Quits Job Amid Allegations" Sept 25 1997] Irish News] . Adi and the work of Chernobyl Children's Project International were featured in the 2003 Academy Award winning film "Chernobyl Heart". She also wrote the book "Chernobyl Heart, 20 Years on."

ee also

*Chernobyl compared to other radioactivity releases
*Chernobyl disaster effects
*Chernobyl Heart
*Chernobyl in the popular consciousness
*Chernobyl Shelter Fund
*Liquidator (Chernobyl)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.chernobyl-international.org/ Chernobyl Children’s Project International Home]