An estimated 5.4 million children are living in institutions worldwideTime for a change
When children get the care they need and are entitled to, they can thrive.
That’s the simple truth that drives all of our work at Lumos. We all have a responsibility to do what it takes to help every child reach their full potential, and create a better future for all of us.
All children need and deserve the same things to thrive: to grow up in the love and protection of their own families, or whenever that is not possible, a safe and stable home with consistent, loving relationships. Institutions like orphanages do not – and cannot – meet these essential needs.
Family settings can provide the consistent, loving relationships that nourish healthy development. Not only are institutions incapable of providing this, but they can also cause harm at a crucial stage of life. When a child experiences the severe and ongoing stress that is so common in institutions, this toxic stress can derail a child’s development and can lead to lifelong problems in physical and mental health.
Yet around the world millions of children continue to live in institutions – separated from their families and the communities which could help them flourish now and in the future.
Most children in institutions like so-called ‘orphanages’ have a living parent. But many have been separated from their families by poverty or conflict, or because they have a disability and their families or local services lack the resources to look after them.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Overwhelming evidence shows us a better way forward, and at Lumos, we are working with partners, children, and families to change the story.
Download our 2024-2027 Strategy
Our strategy has SIX priorities
To achieve a genuinely global impact we are working with partners and finding the most effective ways to share our decades-long expertise.
Prevention & reintegration
We’ll ensure families have the support they need to care for their children as this plays a pivotal role in preventing the separation of children from their families and supports the reintegration of children following family separation.
Strengthening child protection & welfare systems
We will partner with governments to achieve impact at scale in strengthening national child protection and child welfare systems, especially when seeking multi-sectoral, systems-level change.
Increasing care reform commitments
We’ll prioritise preventing children being separated from their families and family strengthening, advocating for the redirecting of funding towards family-based care, addressing the fragmentation of child welfare and child protection systems, shedding light on challenges faced by marginalised groups and engaging young people and families affected.
Amplifying engagement of impacted young people
We will support systematic, quality and ethical participation of children, young people and families affected to ensure they are more meaningfully engaged in the development of policies, practice, and implementation of programme that are undertaken on their behalf and impact them. This will be mainstreamed across each other strategic objective.
Cultivating a thriving organisation
By creating an environment where staff and partners can work together and develop high-quality projects, the better the outcome for all, including the children and families we support. This is led by our core values: always care, embrace collaboration, be passionate, be respectful and always strive for excellence.
Maintaining a finanically sustainable organisation
By maintaining a fiscally responsible organisation, we are able to work with our partners, networks and generous donors to deliver transformational and sustainable projects.
