Handicap International organizes a reception at Speaker’s House with the Secretary of State for International Development to celebrate its new name and 35 years of innovation

On 24th January, Handicap International is unveiling the new name of its international network: “Humanity & Inclusion”.

To celebrate its new name as well as 35 years of innovation, the organization is hosting a reception by kind permission of Mr Speaker in the State Rooms of the Speaker’s House, Westminster. The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt member of Congress, Secretary of State for International Development, will be the keynote speaker.

Since its creation in 1982, Humanity & Inclusion has been driven by innovation. As the organization has grown to meet new challenges, an innovative, practical approach has remained at its core. 35 years of experience has taught the organization to seek solutions that are both realistic and appropriate to each specific context.

During the event, Humanity & Inclusion will present some of its most innovative projects 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. One of the organization’s first beneficiaries, Gniep, who lost her leg to a landmine in Cambodia, will also participate in the event and speak about her inspiring story and how innovation and Humanity & Inclusion have impacted her life.

With the help of the Canadian agency, Cossette, the organization has developed a name that more clearly reflects its values and mission, and a strong and meaningful new logo.
On 24 January, the new identity will be unveiled in a worldwide multi-media campaign that focuses on the symbol of the hand and express the organization’s values using a simple message: "Be a lifeline to the most vulnerable".

The campaign was designed pro bono by the agency, Cossette. Olivier Staub directed the campaign's film which was produced by Morrison Films, and he also produced the photos for the campaign, all pro bono. The Canadian singer, Feist, lent her voice to the English versions of the film.

There were two main drivers behind the decision to change:

• The desire to express the organization’s values and mission more clearly. It had become essential to adopt a tagline that was more representative of the diversity of the organization’s actions, as HI is now running a wide range of activities that are not confined to the disability sector.
• The word “handicap” has a negative connotation in English that is extremely off-putting for certain audiences.  It is seen as pejorative and stigmatizing. Although widely-used at the beginning of the 20th century, it has now virtually disappeared in favor of “disability”.

Notes

Interviews available upon request with Aleema Shivji, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion UK

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

About Humanity & Inclusion
Co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Humanity & Inclusion (the new name of Handicap International) 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