Who We Are

What is CBM's vision and mission?

CBM is an international Christian development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. Based on its Christian values and over 100 years of professional expertise, CBM addresses poverty as a cause and a consequence of disability, and works in partnership to create a society for all. CBM's vision is: "an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential".

How does CBM work?

CBM sees disability as a development and human rights issue. Persons with disabilities in the most disadvantaged societies in the world are often marginalised and may not be able to access education and healthcare services due to various barriers. This can result in exclusion from future employment or income generating opportunities, social life and community activities, leading to a life of poverty.

Working together with partner organisations and persons with disabilities, CBM seeks to overcome these barriers through a twin-track approach.

• One track addresses the empowerment of persons with disabilities and their families, regardless of their nationality, age, sex or religion, through providing equal access to affordable and comprehensive health care and rehabilitation programmes, quality education programmes and livelihood opportunities.
• The other track simultaneously works towards breaking down the barriers that exclude persons with disabilities while promoting an accessible social and physical environment to ensure active participation in community- based activities, planning and decision making.

Through advocacy and within the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), CBM strives to eliminate discriminatory practices and stigma related to disability.

As such CBM recognises that all internationally agreed development goals, in particular the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), can only be achieved if persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers are fully included and their 'voice' represented in all activities surrounding the achievement of these goals.

This is reflected in the slogan advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities "nothing about us, without us.¹"

Who does CBM work with?

CBM works with persons with disabilities, their families, local partner organisations, alliance partners including UN agencies, global organisations, and Disabled Persons' Organisations (DPOs).

CBM has been involved from the outset with "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight", a global initiative with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020, and other global initiatives such as the provision of affordable hearing aids, education for all and community mental health.

CBM is also recognised as a collaborating organisation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Where does CBM work?

Together with its partner organisations, in 2008, CBM was active in 964 projects in 105 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, and reached close to 17 million people.

CBM's achievements to date could not have been accomplished without dedicated and qualified international and national staff that bring their expertise and commitment to serve and empower persons with disabilities and their families: this implies implementing comprehensive, community-directed and participatory approaches that contribute to poverty alleviation and self-reliance.

The emphasis throughout is on local capacity development to increase service delivery in the fields of healthcare, education, rehabilitation and livelihood development as well as organisational development of partner organisations. CBM is also involved in inclusive emergency responses.

Nine CBM Member Associations supported a joint programme of work with a total programme expenditure of 62.7 million Euros. Worldwide, more than 650,000 people generously donate funds towards the work of CBM.

What are CBM's professional values?

CBM has 100 years of experience in the field of disability. CBM's work is founded on the core values of Christianity, Internationalism, Professionalism, Stewardship, honest Communication and Inclusion inherited from our founder, Pastor Ernst Jakob Christoffel.  

 

1. Nothing About Us Without Us: Developing Innovative Technologies: For, By and With Disabled Persons / David Werner