ABOUT cbm > cbm History
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cbm Historycbm looks back at 100 years of history. cbm’s founder was the German pastor Ernst Jakob Christoffel, who built homes for blind children, orphans, physically disabled, and deaf persons in Turkey and Iran. The serious commitment of one pastor laid the foundation for an organisation that is today one of the leading international development organisations for persons with disabilities worldwide. Over time, cbm’s policy has widened from serving blind people to giving all people with disabilities access to basic health care services. According to conservative estimates, there are 400 million people with disabilities in the world - other figures talk of 600 million people. Most of them live in developing countries. About 2.5% of these people—meaning a target population of 10 million—are covered by cbm’s programmes. Still, many people need assistance; therefore, there is a long way to go.  1908Founded by Ernst Jakob Christoffel who builds a home for blind and other people with disabilities and orphans in Turkey. 1925 Christoffel opens another home for persons with disabilities in Iran. 1966 First cbm-supported cataract operation is performed in a hospital in Kabul/Afghanistan. 1967 Start of projects in Ethiopia, Tanzania and India; cbm remains highly active in these countries to this day. 1972 Programmes in South America start with a cbm-supported project in Peru. 1989 WHO recognises cbm as a professional organisation. 1992 cbm first registered in NZ as Christian Blind Mission. 1999 Together with other NGOs and WHO, initiates "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight", a global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness by the year 2020. 2002 cbm receives advisory status for the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. 2003 First international lobbying initiative starts with a permanent office in Brussels . Together with other NGOs and WHO, initiates "WWHearing", a global initiative for promoting better hearing through provision of affordable and appropriate hearing aids and services. 2004 The leadership of cbm reviews our global strategy and sets the framework that defines the direction of the organization in the next century. 2007 November 27 marks the start of centennial celebration together and with partner organisations, donors, supporters and friends by the cbm Family. International brand change to cbm. The change reflects our expanded mandate working with people living with all forms of disability not just blindness while retaining links with our 100 year history as Christian Blind Mission. 2008 As cbm celebrates 100 years of commitment and expertise, we fully embrace our mandate as a development organisation. We are dedicated to improve the quality of life of the world’s poorest persons with disabilities and those at risk of disability who live in the most disadvantaged societies and we aim to reach many more people in years to come. We will do this by building on our current successes, strengthening our partnerships and learning from the people we work with. To read the Challenge Weekly article on Ernst Jakob Christoffel click here. |
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