STANDARD Chartered Bank will celebrate its worldwide 150th anniversary this year, mindful of its obligation to the community.

As part of its social responsibility, the John Boyne House headquartered bank has launched the "Seeing is Believing" initiative, which aims to restore sight to those blinded by cataracts or trachoma.

Stanchart chief executive officer, Washington Matsaira, said the endeavour was in line with the bank's established position as a market leader in community welfare and development projects.

Millions of dollars have been spent on community projects throughout the country through the Community Month and Community Partnership for Africa programmes.

The bank has set the ambitious target of raising enough money to restore the sight of at least 28 000 people around the globe by World Sight Day on 9 October. In Zimbabwe, this means raising $22 million to restore sight to approximately 1 030 blind people, one for each member of staff working for the bank in this country.

Studies reveal that 45 million people in world are blind - nine out of 10 of them in the developing world.

It is estimated that 80 percent of this blindness is avoidable or curable and this is where Stanchart can make the difference.

In Zimbabwe, Stanchart has identified Eyes for Africa, an organisation which is already conducting these operations around the country, as its project implementation partner .

Geraldine Matchaba, head of corporate affairs, reported that a significant amount had already been donated by colleagues within the bank.