The making of Light Without Borders
Luz’s story
This is the story of how Luz Carmona founded Light Without Borders.
Tibet and India
The Light to your Eyes Project has its roots in 2013 when Luz Carmona went on a pilgrimage to the sacred mountain of Kailash in Tibet. While there she distributed hundreds of sunglasses and prescription glasses to Tibetan nomads affected by the strong ultraviolet sunlight. The glasses had been generously donated by the Barraquer Foundation of Barcelona.
The project continued in Ladakh, India, when Luz had the opportunity to distribute hundreds of sunglasses and prescription glasses to visitors to the Kalachakra celebrations in Ladakh, India.
Central and South America
The story continued when Luz again collected hundreds of prescription glasses with the help of friends and the Barraquer Foundation of Barcelona.
In 2014, Luz travelled in Central and South America where she started a third Light to your Eyes Project, giving glasses to people without the means to buy them.
Lesvos 2016
After seeing the drama of the refugees arriving on the beaches of Lesvos, Greece in 2015 and 2016, Luz felt that she had to help.
In September 2016 as an independent volunteer, she loaded her old Seat Panda car (which she still drives) with more than 800 pairs of prescription glasses and 30 kgs of flower essences, and drove from her native Spain overland and by ferry to Lesvos.
With a lot of hard work and perseverance, Luz established Light Without Borders as an NGO with a permanent clinic in Moria camp in Lesvos.
Light Without Borders is an active and effective organisation supported by donations and with the help and generosity of Dr. Marselos Rallidis, an ophthalmologist in Lesvos, and the efforts of many volunteers.
Hundreds of refugees arriving on the island have had free eye consultations and have been given prescription glasses, enabling them to see clearly once again.
And Luz is always there to keep the show on the road with lots of smiles and hugs
