On 2 December 2025, during the week of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Open Eyes Foundation and IDEM Rotterdam hosted a Living Library in Rotterdam as part of the KIJK! ONS project. During this event, young people with disabilities took the stage as “living books”, sharing their personal stories in open conversations […]
Read More… from Looking Back: KIJK! ONS Living Library – Real Conversations on Inclusion
From 17 November to 16 December 2025, the Open Eyes Foundation presented the public exhibition KIJK! ONS at Zuidplein in Rotterdam. Displayed in one of the city’s busiest public spaces, the exhibition highlighted the strength, resilience, and talents of young people with disabilities. Too often, disability is the first thing people notice. KIJK! ONS challenged […]
Read More… from Looking Back: KIJK! ONS Exhibition – Strength Has Many Faces
On 2 December 2025, during the week of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Open Eyes Foundation and IDEM will host a special Living Library event in Rotterdam. This unique gathering features the resilient young people showcased in our exhibition. During the event, a group of young people with disabilities will take the […]
Read More… from Living Library 2025 – Meet the Youth Behind the Stories
From 17 November to 16 December 2025, the exhibition Strength Has Many Faces is on display at Zuidplein in Rotterdam. This special exhibition celebrates the strength and resilience of young people with disabilities. Each portrait tells a personal story about what it means to “be able” in daily life. “Inclusion is not a nice gesture […]
The Open Eyes Foundation is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all young people involved in our projects. We are therefore pleased to share that Board Member Esther Davidson has been appointed as our Safeguarding Focal Point. In this role, Esther will advise on safe recruitment and onboarding, oversee procedures that ensure […]
Read More… from Open Eyes Foundation appoints Safeguarding Lead
Rotterdam, June 2025 – On International Albinism Awareness Day 2025, voices from across the globe come together to emphasize the critical need for skin protection and greater awareness of albinism. This year’s theme is “Demanding our rights: Protecting our skin, Preserving our lives.” To mark the occasion, the Open Eyes Foundation has produced a short […]
Rotterdam, May 2025 – The Open Eyes Foundation has published its 2024 Annual Report, detailing a year filled with international engagement, innovative projects, and growing global awareness around albinism and broader issues of discrimination. The foundation, established by Xueli Abbing—UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and international model—continues to advocate for the inclusion and rights of marginalized youth, […]
Read More… from Open Eyes Foundation Reflects on 2024: A Year of Growth, Impact, and Global Advocacy
Rotterdam, January 2025 – The Open Eyes Foundation has officially released its new Policy Plan for 2025–2027. Founded by international model and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Xueli Abbing, the foundation continues its mission to combat discrimination and promote inclusion, particularly for young people with albinism. With the guiding message “Open your eyes to the world as […]
June 13, 2024, marks the 10th anniversary of International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD), a day dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of albinism and the challenges faced by individuals with this condition worldwide. This official day, established by the United Nations, aims to increase awareness and promote understanding of this genetic condition that results in […]
Read More… from Celebrating International Albinism Awareness Day with Exhibitions in Rotterdam
Xueli was invited to speak at the UNESCO Global Forum against racism and discrimination in Sâo Paulo in Brazil (December 2023). Together with Brazilian Associations for persons with albinism and the Netherlands Consul-General, we or ganised a Master Class on the obstacles persons with albinism in Brazil face and how to overcome them. We discussed discrimination […]
Read More… from UNESCO Global Forum against racism and discrimination in Sao Paulo
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