Perugia Lions Club Hosts ‘dinner in the Dark’ to Foster Empathy, Raise Awareness for Visual Impairment
Perugia, Italy – September 13, 2024 – The Lions Club Perugia host, in collaboration with the Italian Union of Blind and Visually Impaired ETS APS and Lions Clubs International District 108L, hosted a unique awareness event on September 12th at the Etruscan Chocohotel in Perugia. The event,”Dinner in the Dark,” invited participants to experience a meal in complete darkness,relying solely on thier other senses to understand the challenges faced by those with visual impairments.
The initiative aimed to cultivate empathy and understanding for the visually impaired community, prompting attendees to consider the importance of support and inclusivity.The event comes as the Lions Club continues its long-standing commitment to vision care, dating back to a 1925 pact with Helen Keller to become “Knights of the Crusades” against blindness. This event specifically highlighted the national Lions Club theme of “Longevity a new role in tomorrowS company,” emphasizing the ongoing need for integration, prevention, and care for the partially sighted and blind.
During the dinner, blind individuals guided guests to their tables and throughout the meal, encouraging them to explore food through touch, smell, and taste. “Marvelous, blind people guided the guests at the tables, bringing the diners to discover through the touch, smell, taste and hearing what the light had removed,” stated Lino, president of the lions Club Perugia Host. The experience, facilitated by Dr. Silvia quintini of the Umbria section of the italian Union of Blind and Visually Impaired, was described as “strong, authentic and frequently enough unexpected.”
The event also featured a preceding conference with presentations from Dr.Ketty Savino, district coordinator; Dr. Sabrina Ignagni, Specialist in Ophthalmology and delegate of the Governor Foundation Bank of the Eyes Lions Melvin Jones; Dr. Laura Biondi, Oculista; and Gabriele Sanciarini of associazione L’amm.The speakers underscored the importance of continued efforts in information,solidarity,and finding effective solutions for the visually impaired community.
