COVID 19 - A Message from CBM CEOs

The Executive Management of CBM-International: Dr. Peter Schießl (right), Chief Operation Officer (COO) and Dr. Rainer Brockhaus (left), Chief Programme Officer (CPO).
© CBM

A message from our CEOs during these unprecedented and extraordinary times.

We are living through unprecedented and extraordinary times. The Coronavirus is a major global crisis, leaving its mark in more and more countries every day. That it is affecting all our lives – albeit to varying degrees and in different ways – is abundantly clear.

For us all as individuals, it is testing our resolve, demanding from us patience, resilience, faith and compassion. As a global community on the other hand it is testing our spirit of togetherness, by asking us to make sacrifices in our own lives for the benefit of wider society.

CBM offices around the world are working hard to mitigate the effects of this pandemic on our beneficiaries, partners and employees. Our supporters are at the heart of our work – and we want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to ensure our continuing support for the world’s most marginalised people.

As the impact of COVID-19 differs from country to country, we are planning for different eventualities. Thanks to our strong infrastructure and IT systems, most of our employees worldwide are now continuing their work from home and hence ensuring business continuity. International travel has been minimised in order to stop spreading the virus. Our regional and country directors are empowered to take appropriate actions and implement corresponding measures in their geographical areas. We are working closely with partners on the field around the world to be able to continue delivering our projects in the most effective and safest possible way.

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our supporters around the world who are coming to terms with this difficult situation but who continue to carry on their daily work with great spirit. We are very encouraged by how calmly and responsibly people are adapting to this new reality.

And that is how it should be. Without underplaying the magnitude of the crisis, it is crucial that we do not lose sight of CBM’s Vision and ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind. After all, particularly in a crisis like this where it is the vulnerable in society that are most at risk, we must work even harder to ensure people with disabilities are able to enjoy their human rights.

We are sure that if all of us together play our part we will make it through these testing times. In the meantime, we take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to our loyal partners, supporters and employees worldwide, for their flexibility and commitment amidst all this uncertainty. And lastly, we wish you and your families good health and high spirits in these trying times, may we all come out stronger and wiser on the other side. 

With kind regards,

Rainer Brockhaus & Peter Schießl

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Help us by donating generously to our Corona Response Fund and contributing to the survival of children and people with disabilities during these trying times.

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