The Optical Foundation as it is today is the brainchild of Dr. Carolina Kunnen, but its story began long before its official founding. As an 8-year-old girl, Carolina was captivated by photos of her grandparents’ travels to Ghana, where her great-uncle had helped establish the first secondary school in Northern Ghana. From that moment, she knew she would one day go there herself.

In 2005, while working as an optometrist, Carolina met Arthur Alberts, who had founded The Optical Foundation a year earlier. Inspired by the foundation’s mission, she immediately wanted to help in any way she could. By 2006, she officially joined, and in February 2007, at just 24 years old, she launched the foundation’s first project in Ghana, becoming its first volunteer. Accompanied by Huub Villevoye for the initial two weeks, she then continued the work on her own.

During her year in Ghana, Carolina established strong relationships with the University of Cape Coast, local eye clinics, and the community. While teaching and assisting in practical classes at the university, she realized that optometry students lacked hands-on experience. When the equipment finally arrived, she incorporated students into the comprehensive eye exams, guiding them as they conducted screenings.

This is when the idea that education must be a core part of The Optical Foundation’s mission was born.

In 2008, after returning to the Netherlands, Carolina became President of The Optical Foundation, a role she still holds today. Over the years, the team has grown in both numbers and enthusiasm, and with every student trained and child helped, The Optical Foundation’s story continues to be written.