Crombie photos centrepiece of CBM Ireland anniversary event
Disability Inclusion: Celebrating 20 Years of Progress, exhibition by photographer James Crombie
An exhibition of photos by James Crombie is a centrepiece of events to mark the 20-year anniversary of the charity CBM Ireland.
The award winning photographer from Rahugh travelled to Kenya to learn more about the work the charity does, and on October 26 it will celebrate its anniversary with an exhibition of his photographs and a discussion with a panel of speakers, in the Royal College of Physicians, on Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
CBM Ireland supports vulnerable people with disabilities, as part of CBM Global Federation, and works in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Dualta Roughneen, CEO of CBM Ireland said: “We are collaborating with James Crombie to curate an exhibition of his photographs and then have a discussion with a panel of speakers on the progress of disability rights in Ireland and internationally in the 20 years since our foundation.
“James, who is a two-time Irish Press Photographer of the Year, travelled to Kenya to learn more about CBM’s work there and bring home some photographs for our celebration.
“The exhibition will highlight the work of CBM Ireland in Kenya, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. The panel discussion will commence at 4.30pm and include speakers from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, the director general of Irish Aid, a representative of Down Syndrome Ireland as well as the CBM country director in Kenya who has travelled especially for the event.”
Although a celebration of 20 years since CBM was established in Ireland, the event aims to look outwards, at progress and challenges to the achievement of disability rights in Ireland and internationally, in that period.
People with disabilities comprise 16% of global population, about 1.3 billion people worldwide; 80% of them live in the developing world – where CBM Ireland works. There is much to celebrate in the progress that has been made on disability rights in Ireland and in international development. There remain challenges even in Ireland, but there is a yawning gap in the achievements of rights in Ireland compared to the countries CBM Ireland works in. While Ireland is on track to achieve 80% of the Sustainable Development Goals, globally, only 15% of the targets look like they will be reached.
The event will offer the opportunity to interact with the panel of speakers and is open to the public.
Speakers will include: Deputy Michael Moynihan, chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters; Michael Gaffey, director general of Irish Aid,; Eileen Dunne, Down Syndrome Ireland; David Bainbridge, executive eirector, CBM Global; Edwin Osundwa, country director CBM Kenya. The discussion will be moderated by Mary Keogh, advocacy director, CBM Global
About CBM Ireland
CBM (Christian Blind Mission) is a Christian international development organisation, working to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. It exists, it says, because in situations of extreme hardship, war, famine, drought, and natural disaster, people with disabilities are always at the back of the queue. Poverty and disability go hand in hand creating a cycle of inequality, isolation, and exclusion that leads to the most extreme forms of poverty.
Its vision is for an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.
The Christian Blind Mission was founded by Ernst Christoffel in 1908 to help blind children in Turkey and Iran.
The CBM approach is to help people through a network of community-based surgeons, doctors, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, midwives, teachers, trainers, clinical staff, and community workers, from the communities they work in.
We also work in partnership with leading organisations and hospitals on the ground. Organisations that share our passion for helping people with disabilities, irrespective of race, or religion.