Taking Action Today to Achieve Future Goals

Professional Experience for Persons with Disabilities

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. CBM works with partner organisations to support persons with disabilities in the developing world to access affordable and comprehensive health care and rehabilitation programmes, quality education programs and livelihood opportunities. CBM's vision is of an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

CBM's aim is to serve persons with visual impairment as well as people with other disabilities in developing countries—regardless of their nationality, sex, or religion. The history of CBM goes back to 1908, when the organisation was founded by the German Pastor Ernst Jakob Christoffel. Since then, CBM has become one of the leading professional organisations for people with disabilities worldwide. Currently, CBM supports over 1000 projects in over 100 countries.

Today, CBM's fields of work cover not only the prevention and treatment of blindness, but also the education, rehabilitation and inclusion of people with physical, psychosocial, or intellectual disabilities. CBM implements its programmes through local partners. The financial resources, know-how, and staff-support enable partners in developing countries to gradually become sustainable and independent of foreign aid. Nine CBM member countries and major donors provide the funds CBM needs to implement the worldwide programmes.

The overall aims of CBM's work are to:

  • Support CBM's partners to deliver services in cooperation with disabled people's interest groups,
  • Give people with disability the support they need,
  • Promote their inclusion, and
  • Raise awareness of their needs


To achieve these aims, CBM cooperates with global institutions and contributes to international campaigns. CBM has been recognised as a professional organisation for people with disabilities by the World Health Organization and obtained roster consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

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Further information: Read CBM's CBM Profile and Annual Report and Facts&Figures on the overseas work
Read more: CBM's Mission Statement and Values
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February is retinitis pigmentosa awareness month. Learn more about this potentially disabling condition characterised by night blindness and "tunnel vision".

February is retinitis pigmentosa awareness month. Learn more about this potentially disabling condition, with symptoms similar to Vitamin A deficiency, characterised by night blindness and "tunnel vision”, which can cause progressive loss of visual acuity, and even blindness.

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CBM takes action for persons with disabilities

Photo from Uganda, Copyright CBM/argum/Einberger

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. Photo: CBM/argum/Einberger

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Projects worldwide

Projects worldwide