It is a shocking truth, but 8 out of every 10 people with sight problems should be able to see. Visual impairment can be prevented or cured with the right resources made available. 9 out 10 live in low income countries or communities.
French retailer L’Occitane understands this. It has long felt a connection with those with sight problems. The company and their richly fragranced cosmetics and beauty products, so reliant on the senses of smell and touch, have adopted blindness as a particular focus for their social responsibility activities. Their founder, Olivier Baussan, wants to turn one of his old factories into a museum where he can teach blind children about careers working with aromas.
The company, worldwide, supports work against preventable blindness and its Hong Kong office therefore contacted us to book our Blind X-perience for their employees. Mo Tam, one of their staff, said of the x-perience, afterwards, “I felt dazed and confused. It was very scary to walk in the dark. I was afraid to fall. Fortunately, our guide leaded us all the way. I realized the importance of being helped and how we should always help people in need.”
Not only was Crossroads able to help L’Occitane, but L’Occitane graciously helped Crossroads too. The company raised over $5000 for our Blind X-perience. Having been open for some years, its complex equipment needed funding for renovation. Now, with L’Occitane’s help, it is open, year round, to serve its purpose: giving sighted people an x-perience of life for those who cannot see.
