? The international award recognizes those companies, organizations and individuals that develop socially and environmentally responsible projects
? “Let Your Eyes Enjoy!” has improved the eyesight of more than 5,000 people since 2014.

Let Your Eyes Enjoy! a project by Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC), has recently been recognized with a Communitas Award. The prize distinguishes the company’s leadership in community service and corporate social responsibility and celebrates those companies, organizations and individuals that are changing the way they do business to benefit their employees, communities, and environment.

Let Your Eyes Enjoy!
Spearheaded by the Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Let Your Eyes Enjoy! has improved the visual health of communities from different countries in West and North Africa throughout the years, such as Ghana, Cape Verde, Morocco, Guinea Conakry and Sierra Leone, where the last edition took place. The initiative consists of providing free cataract surgeries and prescription glasses to those in need in the countries where the company operates.

By restoring or improving the eyesight of thousands of people, ECCBC has helped them to be more independent, be able to work and achieve a higher quality of life. One of the key characteristics of the project is its connection with the development of local and regional communities, as it has had a multiplying effect in assisting individuals and their whole families that have also been favoured.

Taking into account the results achieved since 2014, Let Your Eyes Enjoy! has now improved the sight of more than 5,000 people with close to 3,000 surgeries performed, more than 5,000 eye checks conducted and more than 3,000 glasses donated.

The success of the project relies on the cooperation among three partners - Fundación Elena Barraquer, Fundación Cione Ruta de La Luz and Equatorial Coca-Cola - with a common goal: to enhance eye health through removing the main barriers that obstruct clear sight. The role of the two foundations for the expeditions is to provide medical assistance, including specialized surgeons, medical equipment, eye tests and free glasses.
To manage such a complex campaign in a short period of time, each expedition lasts 7 days and can reach 400 cataracts operations, it is essential to collaborate with the local communities and partners as institutions and NGOs.

Carles Garriga, Corporate Affairs Director of Equatorial Coca-Cola, stated: “Equatorial is committed to making a meaningful contribution and creating long-term value to the communities where we operate. This commitment is demonstrated by our diverse projects focused on improving education, access to clean water, health, entrepreneurship and environment. Therefore, we are thankful to receive the Communitas Award, as it proves the value of our continuous effort to work towards a better-shared future”.

About ECCBC
Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) started in 1989 in Africa with the concession of Equatorial Guinea. Subsequently, other countries such as Guinea Conakry, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and The Gambia, joined the venture. ECCBC was founded in 1997 as a new company to combine the operations of all these countries. In the last two decades, ECCBC has expanded operations to Ghana, Morocco and Algeria, and today operates in 13 countries in Africa and employs more than 3,500 people. The organization produces, markets and distributes some of the world’s most famous soft drinks including Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. ECCBC participates alongside The Coca-Cola Foundation in sustainability projects that focus on environment, improving education, access to drinking water, health and entrepreneurial spirit.