Stan Platt (in picture), the president of the foundation Light into Europe, was recently awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen Elizabeth II for his work with visually impaired people in Romania. Platt has brought a UK style approach to dealing with disabilities in Europe through his foundation since 1986.

“He has been instrumental in bringing about a change in attitudes towards disabled people, increasing the awareness of their rights and enabling them to live more independent lives. Stan has introduced British standards, values, know-how and technology in the provision of services and equipment," according to the award rational.

“Stan is a long-standing and highly-respected member of the British community in Romania. He and his wife Camelia do fantastic work for visually-impaired people in this country, providing equipment like Braille text books and, most recently, starting Romania’s first ever guide dog program,” said the British Ambassador to Romania Martin Harris.

Light into Europe organizes the Caledonian Ball each year and Burns' Night celebrations in Bucharest to raise funds.

“There are so many Great Britons doing great charitable work in Romania. It all began in 1989 when the world’s media was focused on Romania and its orphanages. But when the media moved on, many British organizations stayed behind to work with Romanian colleagues over the last two decades in supporting vulnerable groups,” the British Ambassador went on.

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(photo source: British Embassy to Bucharest)