Humanity & Inclusion celebrated its new name and 35 years of innovation at Speaker’s House with the Secretary of State for International Development

Humanity & Inclusion celebrated its new name and 35 years of innovation at Speaker’s House with the Secretary of State for International Development

On 24th January, to celebrate its new name as well as 35 years of innovation, the NGO Humanity & Inclusion hosted a reception by kind permission of Mr Speaker in the State Rooms of the Speaker’s House, Westminster. The Secretary of State for International Development, the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt member of Congress, was the keynote speaker. Also speaking was the Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable member of Congress, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Stephen Twigg, member of Congress, and Chair of the International Development Select Committee and one of Humanity & Inclusion’s long-time supporters. Humanity & Inclusion participated in several inquiries conducted by the International Development Committee.

“Only when all are able to reach their full potential, will nations and humanity be able to reach theirs” said the Secretary of State for International Development during her speech, emphasizing the importance to leave no one behind. “People with disabilities suffer appalling and entrenched stigma and discrimination, and in many parts of the world they simply don’t count. This cannot continue - which is why I have put disability at the heart of UK aid to make those invisible visible.” she added.

The Secretary of State for International Development also talked about the project developed in partnership between DFID, Humanity & Inclusion and Ideo.org to launch the world’s first mobile app to help people with disabilities in developing countries to access work through low-cost adaption solutions.

This event was also an opportunity to celebrate 35 years of innovation. As Aleema Shivji, Director of Humanity & Inclusion UK mentioned: “without these innovations, people with disabilities would continue to be left behind.”

From bamboo and leather low-cost artificial limbs on the Thai/Cambodian border in 1982, to 3D printing and the use of apps today, Humanity & Inclusion has always had innovation at its center.

During the event, Humanity & Inclusion presented some of its most innovative projects implemented all over the world, from the use of 3D printing technology for prostheses to the use of drones to clear landmines or the use of innovative software to make education projects more inclusive. Alongside the political speakers was also Gnep, one of Humanity & Inclusion’s first beneficiaries, who lost her leg to a landmine in Cambodia. Gnep shared her moving and inspiring story, reminding everyone about the reason for being of an organization like Humanity & Inclusion and its impact on people’s life.

For 35 years, Humanity & Inclusion has been working to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities and vulnerable groups in order to ‘make the invisible visible’, meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

“Our new name expresses one of our organization's core values, humanity, and the ambition that has driven our work for the last 35 years, the inclusion of people overlooked or ignored by humanitarian response and development programs, and communities around the world.” explained Aleema.

As the Secretary of States said to end her speech: “we must all work together to create a healthier, more inclusive and prosperous world – this is in all our interests.”

And Humanity & Inclusion intends to keep on working for a more inclusive and humane world.

Notes

• Interviews available upon request with Aleema Shivji, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion UK
• Possibility to organize media visits in Humanity & Inclusion’s rehabilitation, inclusive education or mine action programs.

Press contact
Marlene Sigonney, Humanity & Inclusion UK
[email protected] | +44 (0)870 774 3737 | +44 (0)7508 810 520
humanity-inclusion.org.uk

About Humanity & Inclusion
Co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Humanity & Inclusion is a charity working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work tirelessly alongside and vulnerable people to help meet their basic needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Humanity & Inclusion is the new name of Handicap International.