Every day, CBM International is working in 63 countries around the world to transform lives. In 2015, CBM Australia worked directly in 17 of the poorest countries. Together, CBM globally seeks to empower people living with disability in the world’s poorest countries, transforming their lives and breaking down the barriers in their homes and communities that stop them from reaching their full potential.
In low income countries, people living with disability are often unable to access basic rights and services such as education and healthcare, and are often excluded from employment, and social and community activities.
Without these opportunities, people with disability and their families often fall deeper into poverty and become more vulnerable to further disability. Globally, CBM works to break this persistent cycle. Disability and poverty go hand in hand, so they tackle them together.
They are also aware that in times of emergency, people with disability are some of the most vulnerable. They therefore work to ensure they can access mainstream relief such as food, clean water and shelter, while also working with local relief organisations to make sure people with disabilities are included in disaster response planning and future relief efforts.
Their Vision:
An inclusive world in which all people with disability enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.
CBM is creating a lasting impact with the poorest men, women and children living with disability by encouraging self-reliance and participation. They always work in partnership with local organisations, and they work for and with people with disability to promote their rights to local and national governments and agencies. In Australia and overseas, they campaign to change attitudes towards disability.
They were formerly known as Christian Blind Mission – but now they do so much more! Over time, their work has widened from serving mainly people with vision impairment. CBM now works in poor communities with people with disability and those at risk, to access healthcare, rehabilitation, education, employment and social opportunities. CBM International is now the world’s largest non-government organisation (NGO) working with people with disability in the poorest places.
Approach
CBM is one of the leading organisations in the world focused on the double disadvantage of disability and poverty. But how exactly do they work for change in the lives of people with disabilities? They have a unique approach that tackles poverty and disability on all fronts, on the ground and in the boardroom.
In 2015, CBM’s family around the world reached 81 million people in need, through 650 projects in 63 countries.
In developing countries, they partner with local organisations and community projects. This means they can help deliver better healthcare, education and training, rehabilitation, and livelihood opportunities, as well as support project development. Back home in Australia, they’re raising awareness of the cycle of poverty and disability (through our End the Cycle initiative), and engaging generous supporters to find out more about how they can support their work.
At the same time, CBM advocates for inclusion of disability within powerful, international policy-making bodies and development agencies.
CBM also works worldwide to ensure that the needs and rights of the poorest people with disability – the most vulnerable - are not forgotten in times of emergency or natural disaster.
They are committed to improving the quality of life of the world’s poorest people with disabilities.
CBM holds full accreditation with the Australian Government’s aid program and they are grateful for their support.
Advocacy
In everything they do, CBM strives to work for and with people with disability, to promote their human rights and empowerment.
Both in Australia and overseas they’re working with many government bodies and development agencies, to promote the importance of inclusion of people with disabilities and to ensure a political commitment to disability in aid and development activities. CBM is also an active member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for Australian non-government development organisations.
