CBM Italia is a humanitarian organisation committed to preventing and treating blindness and avoidable disability, as well as to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Italy.

51
Projects
11
Countries
2.305.145
People reached in 2023

What we do

Over 1 billion persons throughout the world have a disability (about 15% of the global population); of these, 80% live in developing countries. A vicious circle links disability and poverty. We want to break this cycle by working together with the communities on projects that promote health, education and independent living.

Action areas
inclusive eye icon
Inclusive eye health

Prevention of avoidable blindness, support for hospitals and ophthalmology centres, mobile clinics, prevention and cure of neglected tropical diseases, training of doctors and operators.

other disabilities icon
Other disabilities

Medical care and surgery, physical rehabilitation, equipping of hospitals, training of doctors and operators.

inclusion hug icon
Inclusion

Promotion of disability-inclusive development, inclusive education, vocational training, food security programmes.

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Humanitarian action

Disability-inclusive programmes in preparation for and response to humanitarian and environmental emergencies, training of operators in the field.

How we work

CBM Italia is part of CBM (Christian Blind Mission), an international development organisation, committed since 1908 to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world.
Our projects help to implement the principles embodied in the «UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities», around the world and in Italy, and strengthen the global commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Person touching head another person
  • We work with communities to affirm the rights and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life (Community-based inclusive development).
  • We are active where the need is greatest in Africa, Asia and Latin America; we are also present in Italy.
  • We work together with local partners and organisations of persons with disabilities.

Where we work

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Nurse visiting a child at school

Suppression of trachoma in the districts of Debub Sodo, Silti, and Misrak Silti in Ethiopia.

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Family in Rwanda

The Kabgayi hospital: ophthalmology service

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Little girl with an eye patch

Mulanje Mission Hospital Eye Care and Inclusive Sustainable Livelihoods

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Residents of a Shelter in Sudan

Nuturing the Future: Support for Food Security and Nutrition, South Sudan

85

Girl with visual Disability in India

Bala Nethra Bandhu: Preventing Visual Disabilities Among Children

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Little girl writing on a small whiteboard along with her teacher

A New Beginning: Innovative Paths for Inclusive Community-Based Development

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project logo

Let’s TEST us for the future: TErritories and STudents for new ecological Citizenship

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Eye surgery

TT Backlog Clearance in seven districts of the Gurage and Silti Zones, Ethiopia

75

A teacher with her student

Mental health and psychosocial support for children and young people in Karnataka, India

74

Eye screening

Yuva Vikas: Unlock the human potential of Indian children through eye health and inclusive education

73

Teacher with students in classroom

Institutional strengthening of organizations of persons with disabilities in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

72

Young girl reading from a laptop

Strengthening low vision services in 5 departments of Guatemala

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Trichiasis surgery

Together to eliminate trachoma and improve eye health in South Sudan

70

Onchocerciasis drugs

Accelerate elimination of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic filariasis in Juba County, South Sudan

68

Two girls at a well in South Sudan

Prevention of trachoma through increased awareness and improved access to sanitary facilities in selected schools in Unity State

80

Kids taking loafs of bread

COWPERATION: Reduction of child malnutrition and the promotion of food security among the vulnerable groups in the Woreda of Ebnat, South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region

78

Eye screening

Addis Abeba School Eye Health Programme

77

Kids fetching water from well

Amhara Trachoma Elimination Program (ATEP)

76

Eye screening

ROSHINI Project: Indian Initiative for Comprehensive and Inclusive Eye Care

67

person with disability writing

I-LEAD: Work Placement through Accessible Education and Digitalization

66

Eye screening

Trachoma elimination program in Debub Sodo, Silti and Misrak silti Districts of SNNPR, Ethiopia

65

premature newborn in incubator

Consolidation of the national ROP program in Guatemala

64

A woman working in the fields

Smart Climate - Sustainable Agriculture in Malawi for a better resilience to climate changes

63

Teacher with his students in classroom

InJOB! Educational and work inclusion for young vulnerable students

62

Hospital center

Improving access to rehabilitation services, Naro Moru

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Teacher training workshop

F.I.R.E.! Training Project on Educational Inclusion and Resilience for children with CHARGE syndrome

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A kid receiving care

Scaling up Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to Eliminate Trachoma in Rubkona County, Unity state, South Sudan

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preview meru

Food security and resilience of women with disabilities in Kenya

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family picture

LIKE WATER. Individual educational-rehabilitative therapies for children with CHARGE syndrome

52

Kids during a laboratory

The widespread library: reading as an intimate but participatory experience

51

little girl in Uganda with physical disability

Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for people with disability in Uganda

50

Indian woman writing

By their side: psychological support to youth with disabilities in COVID-19 times

49

Grandmother and nephew in Ethiopia

NTD-WASH project in West Belessa, East Belessa and Ibnat Woredas

46

Bambini in classe

Low vision and refractive errors programme in Cochabamba

37

Nepal

Eastern Regional Eye and Ear Care Programme

35

Niger EU

Urbanisation 4 Change. Socio-economic inclusion in Agadez

34

FAI Niger

Together for an inclusive response to the COVID-19 emergency

33

Humanitas Cagliari

You care, I listen to you: psychological support in hospital context

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Charge

+AIR: Inclusive recreational activities and assistance to children with CHARGE syndrome

29

Uganda

ForeSeeing Inclusion – Eye health and Disability Mainstreaming in North Uganda

27

23

bimbo riceve farmaco

Scaling up MDA to accelerate Elimination of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis

22

Screening

BECause Eye Care: South Sudan Eye Care services strengthening

15

bambini malnutriti

Food security to malnourished children at schools and vulnerable communities in East and West Belessa (Ahmara region)

14

bambina col bastone verso scuola

Ensuring Quality and Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities Program

8

bambino prematuro

Inclusion strategies in socio-health and school services. Operational models for accompanying children with disabilities in Bolivia

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Partners and donors

Our work in developing countries and in Italy is made possible by the trust and support of 48.480 individual donors and many institutions, foundations and companies.

 

In 2023 CBM Italia raised € 5,2 M.

Institutions and foundations
Italian Agency for Development Cooperation
8x1000 Valdesian Church
KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION logo
KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION
PRESIDENZA DEL CONSIGLIO DEI MINISTRI
EUROPEAN UNION
Fondation L'OCCITANE
Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lombardia
Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo
Companies
Mediagraf
Otim

Accountability

74 %
Of the funds collected are allocated for projects and awareness campaigns in developing countries and in Italy
18 %
Invested in fundraising
8 %
For general and administrative expenses
1

We are part of an international organisation active since 1908.

2

We are one of the 275 Civil Society Organisations recognised by AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation).

3

From 2006 to 2020, the financial statements were audited by KPMG, and then became the subject of a statutory audit from 2021, in compliance with the requirements of the Third Sector Code.

4

We have a Code of Conduct that commits us to comply with the principles of honesty, respect, propriety and inclusion.

5

CBM is acknowledged as a “Non-State Actor in official relations with the World Health Organization", with which it collaborates.

Contact us

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CBM Italia

Via Melchiorre Gioia 72
20125 Milano - Italy

Tel. +39 0272093670

Lea Barzani

External Relations Director

lea.barzani@cbmitalia.org