Adi Roche

Adi Roche (1955-present) is a campaigner for peace, humanitarian aid, and education. Born in Clonmel, Ireland, and now living in Cork.

Related Topics:
1955 - Clonmel - Ireland - Cork

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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.

Related Topics:
Chernobyl Children's Project - Belarus - Russia - Ukraine

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Under Adi's leadership, the CCP-International project has initiated aid programs and delivered humanitarian and medical aid valued at over $50M to the areas most affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. A rest and recuperation program has enabled more than 11,000 sick children to come to Ireland for medical treatment and recuperation since 1993.

Related Topics:
Chernobyl nuclear disaster - Ireland

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Adi has been awarded variously the Franskaya Scorina Humanitarian Presidential Medal (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).

Related Topics:
Belarusian government - United Nations

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In 1997, she ran for the office of President of Ireland as a candidate for the Irish Labour Party. Despite starting as favourite, Roche bombed at the polls, coming fourth out of five candidates with less than 7% of the vote. This was after what was widely perceived as a disastrous campaign. During the campaign, a number of ex workers in The Chernobyl Children's Project set up a campaign to discredit Roche, claiming that she was a bully in the workplace.

Related Topics:
President of Ireland - Irish Labour Party

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Adi and the work of Chernobyl Children's Project International was featured in the 2003 Academy Award winning film "Chernobyl Heart."

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