Lumos is the J.K. Rowling-founded charity that supports children and families in Eastern Europe and other regions. Rowling established the organization in 2005 under the name Children’s High Level Group, and it was renamed Lumos in 2010.
The charity works to end the institutionalization of children and promote family-based care. Its name refers to the light-producing spell in the Harry Potter books, but its work is focused on real-world child welfare rather than fantasy storytelling.
Lumos has worked in countries including Moldova, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Its programs advocate for replacing large residential institutions with community services, family support, foster care, and other systems intended to keep children connected to families.
The organization is sometimes confused with Comic Relief because Rowling has supported both charitable causes. They are separate organizations with different structures and missions. Lumos is specifically associated with the campaign to end the institutionalization of children.