2020 - 2029
Honorary Citation by Professor Professor Paul McSweeney for Adi Roche
Chancellor of the NUI, President, Colleagues and distinguished guests, it is my honour to present Dr Adi Roche for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Arts.
Adi Roche is the founder and CEO of Chernobyl Children International, which under her leadership has delivered over €108 million worth of medical and humanitarian aid to the people of Belarus, Ukraine, and Western Russia in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Chernobyl Children International (CCI) is a non-profit, international development, medical, and humanitarian organisation that works with children, families and communities affected by the fallout of the 1986 accident. CCI has established multiple humanitarian programmes which continue to enhance the lives of those in the affected regions.
Adi has dedicated her life to campaigning for issues relating to the environment, peace and social justice. As a volunteer for the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), she devised a Peace Education Programme and delivered it in over fifty schools throughout Ireland.
In January 1991 Irish CND received a fax message from Ukrainian and Belarusian doctors which read, “SOS appeal. For God’s sake help us get the children out.” This fax was to change Adi’s life and in doing so, change the lives of countless others. The first group of Chernobyl children arrived in Ireland later that year.
Former President of Ireland, Mary McAlesse has described Adi as “undaunted and selfless in her commitment of all of those associated with the Chernobyl Children’s project.” Adi’s leadership and inspirational energy is an exemplar of human compassion and determination for us all, to do the right thing in support of those who experience suffering and catastrophe, wherever and whoever they may be. And to learn from the mistakes and misfortunes of our past.
On each part of this journey Adi has built a remarkable team of CCI staff, volunteers, active citizens, and friends that support her loyally.
We welcome here today Adi’s husband Sean, family and friends, volunteers, staff, donors and supporters. We also warmly welcome four young adult survivors of the Chernobyl disaster, who have been able to build new lives here in Ireland thanks to the work of Adi and her team.
Adi grew up in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, born to Cork parents, (Sean and Chris ), both of whom shared a strong sense of active citizenship and were deeply involved in their local communities through their work with The Society of St. Vincent De Paul. Early experiences witnessing inequality and poverty in her own community, and the example of moral responsibility from her parents shaped the determined volunteer in Adi, and her belief in the power of the individual in making a difference.
Today CCI continues its work, bringing about attitudinal, social, and political changes both within the Chernobyl region, and on the wider international stage. CCI were one of the first organisations to identify the need for diplomatic and political relationship development, which has brought about significant legislative changes, brokering the ground-breaking adoption agreement between Ireland and Belarus.
CCI are the sole organisation working in the Chernobyl area to be accredited with the United Nations official NGO status, and in 2016, following Adi’s landmark address to the UN General Assembly in New York, the 26th April has been declared ‘UN Chernobyl Remembrance Day’.
CCI Achievements are remarkable:
- €108 million worth of aid.
- Pioneering the groundbreaking adoption agreement between Ireland and Belarus, allowing hundreds of children to be adopted into Ireland.
- The development of a child cardiac surgery programme in Belarus and Ukraine to combat the increase in cardiac birth defects. 4,200 life-saving cardiac surgeries performed over the last twelve years.
- CCI has built and equipped the first ever baby hospice in Belarus providing expert training to staff to ensure the best care to patients.
- And of course, over 26,500 children have been given rest and recuperation holidays with host families in Ireland.
A prolific writer, Adi has researched and produced several award-winning documentaries about the disaster including the Oscar-winning Chernobyl Heart. She was a consultant on the recent award winning HBO ‘Chernobyl’ Series.
Adi has been the recipient on many honours and awards including the Princess Grace Humanitarian Award, the World of Children Health Award, and most recently the Armadiyya Muslim Peace Prize.
Adi Roche has been the voice for countless human beings, who have suffered in horrendous circumstances, and who have needed our help and support. She has acted with unwavering belief in the power of an dividual to bring about change, and with immense dedication to the vocation of caring for others who have been blighted by appalling disaster.
In recognition of her outstanding work in the advancement of peace and humanitarian causes it is my great honour to recommend Adi Roche for Honorary Degree of Doctor of Arts.