Our Vision
We share the vision of a world in which sensory impaired children and young people enjoy the same rights, opportunities, responsibilities, fulfilment and quality of life as their able-bodied peers.
We share the vision of a world in which sensory impaired children and young people enjoy the same rights, opportunities, responsibilities, fulfilment and quality of life as their able-bodied peers.
Thank you to Orange Romania for their ongoing support and encouragement
LIGHT INTO EUROPE
History
Light into Europe is a British charity that was established in 1986 by a group of Christian professionals to develop relief, medical and humanitarian programs in Eastern Europe. The Charity was initially focused on providing medical evacuation by air and humanitarian relief to Eastern and Central European countries then under communist oppression – offering these services in Romania starting in early 1990.
Many people long associated with Romania will know Light into Europe as the
provider of the only air-ambulance service from the mid-1990s until 2003. During this period, more than 5,000 flight hours helped saving almost a thousand lives by Capt. Stan Platt’s crews.
provider of the only air-ambulance service from the mid-1990s until 2003. During this period, more than 5,000 flight hours helped saving almost a thousand lives by Capt. Stan Platt’s crews.
In addition to an increasing number of air-ambulance flights, the charity also developed its work in hospitals, orphanages and schools around the country, providing medical and social training, humanitarian aid, medical equipment and medicines.
With the discontinuation of our air-ambulance activities in 2003, owing to increasing difficulties with the Ministry of Health, an analysis of the humanitarian situation in Romania revealed that almost all the funds and attention are directed towards hospitals and orphanages, whilst the blind and deaf communities receive very little support.
Since 2004, we focused our efforts on developing support for two Cinderella groups: the sight impaired and the hearing impaired.
As the Romanian government continues its’ efforts to develop improved social services for the general population, the sensory impaired are a neglected demographic that have received very little support and assistance. Facilities providing services are old fashioned and under-equipped. The educational system has yet to respond to the needs of sensory impaired Romanians; education materials are lacking and/or non-existent. As a result of a non-adapted curriculum, young Romanians are offered limited life prospects and opportunities.
Light into Europe’s teamwork and dedication has resulted in 120 successful medical and social projects in Romania, involving more than 1000 volunteers and almost 4 million dollars worth of donations in kind.
The charity has received very good press coverage over the years as its goal is to be an outstanding partner to our sponsors and donors, providing only prime projects with significant social impact.
After a three year period of familiarization and real understanding of the situation and the needs of the children and young people with sight or hearing impairment, Light into Europe opened the first Resource Centre for the Sensory Impaired in 2007.
A combination of the right information, technology, therapies, the right staff, the right volunteers and the right and generous sponsors make the Resource Centre a unique place for the sensory impaired beneficiaries, their families and professionals to learn, to explore and to thrive.
Light into Europe is committed to implementing projects, providing services, and directly reaching beneficiaries to help overcome the many challenges faced by sensory impaired individuals in Romania today.