Bengaluru/ Delhi, October 12, 2016: The largest eye donation campaign in the world is planned in connection with the World Sight Day on October 13 through a very innovative program called ‘ World Blind Walk’ organised in 55 locations across five countries by a Bangalore based non-government initiative called Project Vision www.theprojectvision.org. About 5000 visually challenged people will lead over 25,000 people in a blind folded Walk that will end with a pledge to donate eyes and help the cause of the visually challenged people across the World.

Implementing the theme of this year World Sight Day by International Association for the Prevention of Blindness, ‘Stronger, Together World Blind Walk is bringing together over 500 organisations across the globe from social, developmental, medical, academic and religious backgrounds on a single platform to push for a global movement on eye donations. National Federation of the Blind, Eye Bank Association of India, Art of Living, Catholic Hospital Association of India and 104 Health line of government are national partners of the program.Â

The concept of Blind Walk was developed by Project Vision through which sighted persons are given an opportunity to experience what blindness is through a one kilometre blindfolded Walk in a public place, led by visually challenged persons. The Walk will happen on the same day, in the same way in all locations - 55 locations in five countries - US, China, Srilanka, Nepal and in India, covering all major cities. It covers all major cities in the country from Itanagar in North east to Varnasi in the North to Mumbai in the West to Kottayam in the South - totally 55 locations.

The objective of World Blind Walk is to create  Vision Ambassadors, who would coordinate between the bereaved family and the eye bank in the event of death. This is the real gap in the whole eye donation program - another approach developed by Project Vision. Corneal blindness can be eliminated by developing Vision Ambassadors in the community. World Blind Walk will develop 25,000 Vision Ambassadors.