Eyes Wide Open

Before structuring our work around today’s key focus areas, Danone Ecosystem developed pioneering initiatives. Among them, our Inclusive Distribution projects played a central role in empowering vulnerable populations and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurship. 

These early projects laid essential foundations for our current model: people and their communities are at the heart of everything we do. We strive to build truly sustainable initiatives by training and strengthening the capabilities of key professionals and the communities they serve. 

In Mexico City, people with disabilities were isolated from the labor market. Authorities were looking at ways to support social inclusion, including by providing allocated spots where blind people could sell products. 

Launched in 2015, with the support of the Danone Ecosystem Fund, Yo Quiero Yo Puedo (Mexican Institute of Family and Population Research) and  Bonafont, the Eyes Wide Open project trained and empowered blind people in Mexico City selling water in the subway. The project provided entrepreneurship training to support participants, built their life skills, and encouraged them to create new sales opportunities. It also brought social benefits to participants and their families. 

The project supported the recognition of blind people in Mexico and encouraged their social inclusion, improving working conditions, incomes, and quality of life for blind people vending in the subway.