Tipperary woman Adi Roche to receive international peace prize in London

The Founder and Voluntary CEO of the Chernobyl Children International charity, Clonmel woman Adi Roche, will be presented with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize at the National Peace Symposium in London this Saturday, in recognition of her lifelong “contribution for the advancement of the cause of peace”.

The ceremony will take place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London. 

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is dedicated to establish peace at all levels, the promotion of inter-faith dialogue and to protect the basic human rights of all around the world.  Their charitable work, domestically and internationally, and their faith is underpinned by five values that are largely shared with Adi and her lifelong work; loyalty, freedom, equality, respect and peace.

Adi has dedicated her life, since 1977, campaigning for and being publicly active in issues relating to the environment, peace and social justice.  Having worked for a number of years in Aer Lingus, Adi left to work full-time as a volunteer for the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).  She devised a Peace Education Programme and delivered it in over fifty schools throughout Ireland promoting peace and active citizenship. 

Adi began her pioneering work for Chernobyl’s victims and survivors in the immediate aftermath of the accident in 1986 and formally founded Chernobyl Children International (CCI) in 1991.  CCI has since gone on to deliver over €108 million in humanitarian aid to the Chernobyl affected regions, including the frontline of war-torn Ukraine, and is the only UN recognised NGO working in the area. 

Speaking in advance of the awarding ceremony, Adi says: “It is an honour to receive the Ahmadiyya Prize for the Advancement of Peace. Awards like this highlight that when we come together, we renew our commitment not to give up, not to stand idly by, but stand up,  speak out and give witness and be on the frontline of humanitarian efforts, offering that most precious of gifts – hope.

"In these turbulent times of war and planetary degradation, it is easy to become despairing, paralysed and hopeless.  So much is lost in the cacophony of noise from the beating drums of winnerless wars; it is easy to forget the power of all the goodness around us. 

"The Ahmadiyya Peace Symposium allows us to renew our commitment to the human race, and by extension to each other.  "Saying yes, we are taking a side – we are on the side of peace with justice".