The Group is celebrating World Children's Day today to raise awareness for children's rights while encouraging dialogue and actions that help build a better future. With a focus on improving vision, the goal is to help children around the world ‘see more and be more’ to reach their full potential. 

World Children’s Day takes place each year on 20 November to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights. This year’s theme is: “Listen to the future. Stand up for children’s rights”.   

Good Vision for a Bright and Promising Future

Good vision is a basic human right and EssilorLuxottica has an ambition to eliminate poor vision by 2050. This commitment is in line with its corporate responsibility program, Eyes on the Planet (EOTP) as the Group works towards a brighter future where everyone in the world has access to sustainable vision care. On World Children’s Day, the Company is demonstrating its commitment through the following initiatives: 

• A global campaign to raise awareness and highlight how we are empowering children worldwide through vision care, emphasizing the connection between clear vision and a bright, promising future. This is showcased across all the Group’s offline and online corporate channels. 
   

• A livestream panel discussion on Leonardo, the Group’s learning ecosystem, which provides updates on vision care for children from EssilorLuxottica and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to highlight the strength of the partnership with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and how the Foundation’s pledge at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum has been embraced by the organization, with a brief mention of the joint initiatives in Moldova, Greece, and Italy.
   

• A program to engage the younger generation through art as its retail brand, Salmoiraghi & Viganò, launches the second edition of ‘A Look into the Future’ in Turin. This year, the project involved the Renato Cottini State Art High School, where local artist Francesca Nigra, alias Nice&TheFox, created a mural on the school’s facade. Her work celebrates the eye as a symbol of envisioning a better society and encourages care for nature in general. 
   

• Best Eyecare solutions to help children see clearly and protect their eyes along with dedicated awareness campaigns that highlight key messages on eyecare.  

Beyond World Children’s Day, the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has been helping millions of children around the world gain access to vision care services. This is because good vision supports educational progress, builds confidence, and strengthens social development. By investing in children's vision care, the Foundation contributes to a healthier, more inclusive future. Some examples of its programs include: 

• Vision for All, India, through the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation’s collaboration with the Government of Goa. More than 2,000 teachers were trained to conduct vision screenings to provide life-changing vision care to over 230,000 children, for the first time. Building on this success, the Government of Goa has now implemented mandatory annual vision tests for all schoolchildren.
    

• Changing Life through Lenses, North America. To support charitable efforts in the region, the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation provides optometrists and vision charities with in-kind donations of single-vision lenses, frames and lens services at no cost to the eye doctor. These glasses are to be distributed to children in need. 
   

• One School at a Time, Africa. To bridge the vision care gap and give children from disadvantaged families and under-served communities a brighter future, CooperVision, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, African Eye Institute, Berkeley Vision, and Peek Vision launched “One School at a Time” part of the Berkeley Vision global program in South Africa. This includes conducting eye screenings, ensuring necessary referrals, and providing free spectacles as needed to children in local schools. 
   

• “Giornate della Vista”, Italy. Throughout the month of October, approximately one thousand people received eye exams from a team of ophthalmologists and orthoptists in the country. Special attention was given to children, with five days dedicated exclusively to pediatric care. Along with small gifts, every examined child received a pair of sunglasses and, where necessary, prescription glasses. This edition also featured a collaboration with the UNHCR, allowing many asylum seekers to receive eye exams and prescription glasses.