On Lumos Staff: Bisser Spirov

I’m?Bisser Spirov?and I’m Senior Technical Advisor in GSC. Before this, I was Country Manager of Lumos in Bulgaria.

In my work I have always liked the opportunity to communicate with different people - children, parents, different professionals, authorities.

For me, each person is?unique,?and I?truly believe?that the?participatory?idea is not only?very important, but it is also very fundamental. Everyone has a right to?participate?and be involved in?a good way?in all things that concern them family and community. The?participatory?approach?in Lumos is something that I really like.

The other aspect of the work which I love the most is the training and the whole technical and methodological support that we are providing. I think that it's crucial to spread such important knowledge for the rights of the children, for the importance of family life in early child development and transformation of the childcare system.

I am very excited by my work, because I truly believe that children need families not institutions and all my life, I have worked to stop systematic institutionalization of children.

Institutionalisation of children is one of the main problems for millions of children around the world, connected and associated with many other problems and issues.

I am?most proud?of?the case of a boy with very severe disabilities and serious health problems, who was in critical condition in a specialised institution in Bulgaria. Thanks to Lumos, this young man now has been living with a foster family for 5 years.

What I've?learned at Lumos is that?it takes time for a change to happen - even if this?change?is desired.?

Not many of my colleagues would know that, but when?I was?a teenager?I?was playing?a guitar. We even?had a band in my?home town?and I was?playing on?bass guitar. Music inspires me, mainly rock but jazz and classical music are also my favourite. And what truly makes me happy is a full day with my family.

I very often repeat to myself the words of Bono, the lead vocalist of U2:

”We can’t fix all the problems but we must fix the ones we can.”

Watch this video to learn more about Bisser's accomplishments in Bulgaria!