L’OCCITANE’s fight to increase awareness on avoidable blindness and to enhance the integration of the visually impaired began back in 1997 – product names were included in braille on the packaging. In 2006, the L’OCCITANE Foundation (based in France, HQ) was created with two long-term missions: to support the visually-impaired and promote the economic emancipation of women. So far, more than 2 million people have benefitted from eye care thanks to L’OCCITANE’s efforts to support the blind and visually-impaired.
On a local front, L’OCCITANE Malaysia began its fight against avoidable blindness initiative in 2009 to give back to the local community & also help improve the lives of the blind and visually-impaired in Malaysia with the partners St Nicholas Home (Penang) and Malaysian Association for the Blind (KL).
Once again, for its 8th years running, this year’s theme is again the Fight against Avoidable Blindness, will involve raising funds for St Nicholas Home Penang to conduct eye screenings, prescription glasses for those who require attention, eye treatments, eye surgeries, eye care trainings for medical staffs as well as awareness programme such as talks/seminar in schools/medical centres with the aim to reach out more and more Malaysian on the causes of avoidable blindness & its prevention steps.
One of the key highlights about L’OCCITANE’s efforts in fighting the preventable blindness is its first DIGITAL MARATHON – called “#raceforvisionmalaysia” to create awareness & educate Malaysia on avoidable blindness while raising funds for St Nicholas Home Penang.