Adi Roche Detailed Biography

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 $60MM 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. This was after what was widely perceived as a disastrous campaign. 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".