2012 was a landmark year for Lumos. Our international team of dedicated professionals significantly scaled up its delivery of programmes that change the lives of Europe’s most vulnerable children. This Review provides a snapshot of some of Lumos’ extraordinary achievements.

I was profoundly moved by the individual stories of children reunited with their families; of parents who felt they had no option but to place their children in institutions, but were provided with the support they needed so their children could come home.

And this year too, Lumos saved the lives of many more children in institutions who were dying as a result of neglect or a lack of access to proper medical care.

During 2012, Lumos’ work to demonstrate best practices in changing systems of health, education and social services has become a model for others. Governments and organisations from many countries have asked Lumos to assist them in closing their institutions and setting up community services. Impressed by our success in Moldova, the Ukrainian national and regional level government, as well as NGOs, have begun to use Lumos’ approach to develop national and regional action plans for change.

But the work of one NGO can never be enough to help all children in institutions. This is why we work to influence decision makers at the highest level. This year we have been successful in assisting the European Commission and European Parliament to make major changes in the way EU funding can be spent. Over the next few years, this will shift resources from institutions to the development of community-based services, marking the beginning of the end of institutions for children in Europe.

None of this could be achieved without the generous support of partners and donors. For this I thank you and I hope you will continue to work with us to bring an end to the institutionalisation of children.

---

Previous writing: « Gilderoy Lockhart

Next writing: Book of Potions »