JK Rowling's Charity Celebrates International Children's Day

JK Rowling's charity – the Children's High Level Group – has changed its name to Lumos, and the organization is launching a campaign next month to celebrate International Children’s Day on June 1.

The charity officially changed its name earlier this year, but will still carry on its work of putting an end to the systematic institutionalization of disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe. The name Lumos comes from the light that comes from wizards’ wands in Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

“Twenty years ago, as Communist regimes across Europe toppled, harrowing images of Europe’s hidden children began to emerge,” said Rowling. “Thousands upon thousands of children were living in vast, depressing institutions – malnourished and often maltreated, with little access to the outside world. Slowly governments have begun to transform care systems. Real and lasting change takes time, but today we are putting down a marker and calling for significantly more progress in the next twenty years to ensure that eventually no children are living in, or at risk of entering, such institutions.”

The charity is asking people around the world to support its Light a Birthday Candle campaign on June 1 by hosting fundraising birthday parties and lighting candles in support of the children and the organization. Other initiatives in the campaign include baking and bringing cakes to work, downloading a virtual candle and making a donation via mobile phones.

To find out more about the charity and the campaign, visit the official website.