Chernobyl Children's International: Hope for Chernobyl's Young Victims

The Chernobyl meltdown was the biggest nuclear disaster in history, and while it happened nearly 30 years ago, its impact is still very real today and its effects will continue to be felt for centuries. Adi Roche began working on Chernobyl in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Five years later, while she was volunteering with a nuclear disarmament group, she received a fax message from Belarusian and Ukranian doctors asking anyone to “help us get the children out.” Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem, Roche chose to answer the appeal and founded Chernobyl Children International (CCI).

During the first year of CCI, Roche worked by herself out of a spare bedroom in her home. That summer, she organized “Rest and Recuperation” holidays for a few Chernobyl kids with the help of Irish families who were willing to host them in a healthy, loving environment. Since then, Chernobyl Children International has grown to become the largest global contributor to Belarus. Today, the internationally renowned organization works closely with the Belarusian government, the United Nations, and thousands of volunteers worldwide to support the children and the wider community affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe. CCI also advocates for their rights and works to raise public awareness about the effects of the explosion.

To date, CCI has reached hundreds of thousands of children and delivered more than €96.5 million in direct and indirect aid to Belarus, the Ukraine, and Western Russia. The original “Rest and Recuperation” program alone has brought over 24,500 children to Ireland, decreasing their contamination levels by 30 to 50 percent and returning an average of 2 years to their lifespan. CCI's other accomplishments include funding and coordinating 20,000 lifesaving surgeries for kids with “Chernobyl heart,” refurbishing day care centers throughout Belarus, and renovating Vesnovo Children's Mental Asylum, among others.