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| Donation Records | 26 countries | 10,038 units | （Dec. 2024） | |
| About Us | Donation Record | Request for Support | Monthly Activities | Sponsors |
～ With people from Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. and
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Inc. ～
It was a cold winter work day. The morning was clear, but a light rain began to fall before noon, forcing us to stop our work. However, thanks to the hard work of all the participants, we were able to carry out the activities as scheduled.
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On November 29, 2024, the container ship departed Tokyo port, which brings us the achivement of 10,000 wheelchairs donated. Moreover, this year marks the 20th anniversary of our NGO’s activities.
The NGO started in June 2004 with the first donation of 16 wheelchairs to Malaysia. Since we were trying to achieve something that no one had ever experienced before, we started with no idea of what everything was about.
In particular, we had no knowledge of exporting to overseas, but as the circle of people who agreed with the purpose of our activities grew, we were able to send the wheelchairs to Malaysia without incident.
Since then, we have been sending 10,038 wheelchairs (as of December 2024) to 26 countries. This has been made possible by the many volunteers who support our wheelchair cleaning and maintenance activities, the PTA members and teachers of special-needs schools in Kanto and surrounding prefectures who donate wheelchairs, the parents who deliver wheelchairs individually from all over Japan, and our members, companies, and organizations who support the high cost of exporting wheelchairs overseas. It is thanks to this circle of support that we have been able to achieve 10,000 wheelchairs.
How did I get started? I was diagnosed with cancer and was told by my doctor that I had only one year to live. I started this project because I wanted to do something useful for the world before I die. I never thought that I would be able to continue in this way for 20 years and send more than 10,000 wheelchairs.
Although my cancer is not completely cured, I still have the strength to continue our activities, and I am doing my best to “send as many wheelchairs as possible to children overseas. We would like to continue our activities with the support of many people.
December 7, 2024 Hirokazu Morita
(Refer to the origin of our NGO from “Bakuso Kotobukiya Monogatari.”)
(written inJapanese)
== T-shirt commemorating the 10,000th unit and 20th anniversary ==
We’ve made T-shirts commemorating the 10,000th unit and 20th anniversary. They will be distributed mainly to volunteers who will participate in cleaning and maintenance activities.
Click to enlarge the photo on the left and the figures below.
(Left)The truck record of 10,000 units by year.
(right) The truck record of 10,000 units by country.
On November 29, 2024, the container ship loaded with 107 wheelchairs and other devices departed Tokyo Port for Universal Progress Independent Living Center(headed by Mr.Undrakhbayar Chuluundavaa) in Mongolia. The wheelchairs will be unloaded at a port in Tianjin, China, and from there will be transported by rail to Mongolia. They are expected to arrive in Ulaanbaatar two to three months later, at the end of January or February 2025.
For Mongolia, we have sent wheelchairs with other organizations so far, but this is the first time for us to send by ourselves. This project started with the meeting with Mr.Undrakhbayar at Kobe city, on May 27.
The purpose of the meeting was to share awareness of our NGO’s concept of providing children’s wheelchairs overseas and how they should be managed. We exchanged views on how to handle children’s wheelchairs, which require different management from adult wheelchairs. Then we promised to send 90 children’s wheelchairs by the end of this year.
The project began in June 2024. Since then, 107 wheelchairs and other devices for Mongolia have been prepared through six monthly meetings. The number of wheelchairs exceeded the original plan of 90 units, resulting in 107 units. For this reason, the container size has been changed from 20 feet to 40 feet. In addition to wheelchairs, the contents also include buggy-types, sitting-aid- devices, walkers, standing trainers, car seats, stretchers, bath chairs, and prosthetic devices. Since this is the first time our NGO is sending this alone, we decided to include a variety of items.
We are requesting that a local handover ceremony be held after the wheelchairs arrive in Mongolia. If the ceremony is held, it is expected that our board members, volunteers, and support groups will attend. We believe that having our NGO members travel to Mongolia and experience the realities of the lives of children with disabilities in Mongolia will lead to a more appropriate donation.
This donation brings the total number of units donated to Mongolia to 158. Furthermore, the total number of wheelchairs donated overseas since the start of our activities has exceeded 10,000. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the many people who have supported our activities. It is all thanks to you.
December 3, 2024 Hirokazu Morita
== Container loading ==
Container loading was held on November 20 at Tama Packaging Industry Co. In spite of the rain on the day, 107 wheelchairs and other devices were loaded smoothly.
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
Blue tape wrapped around packed wheelchairs indicates that they are for Mongolia.
Blankets for packaging. This is an attempt to reuse blankets and reduce packaging waste.
(Left) Cardboard boxes filled with prosthetic devices are also loaded into the container.
(Right) After all the euipment has been loaded, wooden frames are installed to prevent it from falling and the container is closed.
(Left) Chairperson Morita sealed the container.
(Right) The truck departed for the Port of Tokyo.
== The shipment for Mogolia. ==
52 wheelchairs 13 buggy-types
12 sitting-aids 15 walkers
7 standing trainers 2 car seats
3 stretchers 3 bath chairs
64 pairs of prostheses 8 headgears
On December 2, we went to Himawari Special School, in Saitama city, and received two wheelchairs, two buggy-types, one sitting-aid, and seven walkers.
Like Shikamoto Gakuen last month, it’s since 2019 that they have been providing us with wheelchairs. Our records tell that the offer has been done since 2019, but it is likely that it was offered even before that.
The wheelchairs were waiting for us at the entrance hall. When the truck arrived, all the PTA board members and the vice principal who had gathered there helped at once, and the loading was completed in no time.
After the work, one of the PTA members asked us whether car seats are OK for pickup. We explained by saying, “In addition to car seats, there are stretchers and bath chairs among the euipment we send. Such euipment is also appreciated overseas.”
We told them that we plan to send these wheelchairs and other items to Nepal and asked them to provide wheelchairs again next year.
December 4, 2024 Secretariat
== Loading wheelchairs onto the truck ==
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
On November 27, we got twelve wheelchairs from Shikamoto Gakuen, located in the eastern part of Tokyo. PTA board members helped load the wheelchairs onto the truck.
The school has provided wheelchairs since 2019. We may have received them before that, but this is the sixth year that we have records. Our activities are supported by these ongoing wheelchair donations from special needs schools.
This is made possible by the support of the PTA board members. Most of the members change after a few years. Nevertheless, they ensure that the handover is carried out among them and provide wheelchairs to our NGO. It is truly appreciated and we would like to thank them again.
We told them that Nepal is one of the candidates for those wheelchairs. And when we asked them to provide them again next year, they readily agreed, saying, “Of course.”
December 2nd, 2024 Secretariat
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
The PTA board members had got wheelchairs waiting outside in advance.
The truck arrived and we loaded the truck together. Thank you very much.
After the wheelchairs were loaded, the board members guided the truck and saw it off.
These are Shikamoto Gakuen’s buildings on a large site. In addition to the school buildings, there are grounds, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and farms.
On August 28, 2024, we handed over a wheelchair to Samantha, a student from the Solomon Islands, and on September 5, she flew back to the Islands temporarily with the wheelchair.
She herself returned to the island of Guadalcanal, where Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, is located, and her brother lives with his mother on the neighboring island of Malaita. The wheelchair did not seem to reach the next island easily from Honiara.
On November 13, we got several photos from Samantha showing her brother in his wheelchair. Although it had been over two months, everyone involved was overjoyed to see the photos of him and his family.
Normally, our NGO sends 90 units by container to our overseas partners, but it is a great pleasure for us to be able to make this individual presentation. I believe that this was made possible by Samantha’s thoughtfulness for her brother and mother.
We provided financial support for her to transport the wheelchair to the Solomon Islands. That was more expensive than the cost per wheelchair when 90 wheelchairs were transported by container, but we would like to continue this kind of support when the opportunity arises.
November 21, 2024 Hirokazu Morita
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
(Left) Samantha’s brother in his wheelchair in front of his house.
(Right) Samantha’s brother, mother<second from right>, aunt<left> and nephew<right>.
On November 10, 2024, we had a final meeting for Mongolia. The participants were Vietnamese group, Tama Technical High School group, Ethiopian group, general volunteers, and staff:34 in total.
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The annual Fussa Blues Festival, now in its 17th year, was held on a clear autumn day on November 3. The venue was the same as last year, the large parking lot of Marufuji supermarket near Higashi Fussa Station on the JR Hachiko Line.
The festival was established in 2006 by Yahachiro Ishikawa, the owner of Ishikawa Sake Brewery, who called on musicians to support our activities. It has now become a well-known autumn event in Fussa City. As an annual charity event, a portion of the proceeds are donated to our NGO.
This year, more than 30 professional musicians from Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukushima, Osaka, and many other cities participated in the 17th event, in response to the call of committee chairpersons CHIKKO SOMA (ds.) and KOTEZ (vo., hca.). All the musicians played a hot and intense sound, and the audience of more than 200 became one with the concert, which was very exciting.
In between performances, Chairperson Morita talked about the reality of children with disabilities overseas and the importance of support from Japan.
He then said, “Thanks to your support, we will be able to reach our goal of 10,000 wheelchairs for children overseas. Thank you very much.”
Thank you to the musicians, to the citizens who helped raise funds, and to everyone involved for your support.
November 5, 2024 Secretariat
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
(Left) The performance lasted for 7 to 8 hours.
(Right) Children who went around the venue with donation boxes, Yahachiro Ishikawa and Chairperson Morita.
“BIKE&CAMP KANTOU24,” organized by Mr. Yamashita, who volunteers for the cleaning, maintenance, and packing work of our NGO, was held again this year on October 26 and 27 by Lake Kasumigaura.
Various bicycles were displayed and available for test rides, and camping equipment was on display and for sale. 143 groups of 170 people stayed overnight (e.g., in tents) and 1,000 people, including general visitors, attended the event.(Click on the brochure on the right to link to the event page)
We participated in this event for the fourth year in a row after Mr. Yamashita’s gracious invitation to attend the event and introduce our activities to the public.
During the day there were test rides of various bicycles and camping equipment for sale. On Saturday evening, a talk show was held around a campfire. It was a great opportunity for the participants to introduce their travel experiences, and they had a lot of fun asking related questions and sharing their own experiences, which was a great success.
After the talk show, Chairperson Morita gave a speech introducing our NGO. He expressed his desire to “continue our activities to send wheelchairs overseas so that handicapped children there can be as healthy as possible.” The participants listened attentively to his speech.
The annual charity auction, which has become a lively event every year, was also held, with participants bidding loudly on items introduced one after another. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the NGO. Thank you, everyone!
October 30, 2024 Secretariat
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
(Left) This is the headquarters tent at the entrance to the venue, where the reception for visitors is located.
(Right) We used a part of the headquarters tent to display panels introducing our NGO and a wheelchair (orange).
(Left) The event started with a greeting by Mr. Yamashita.
(Right) A photo with Chairperson Morita, who had rushed to the event, Mr. Yamashita, and a board member of the NGO.
(Left) We called for donations while having people enjoy “roasted marshmallows” by the bonfire in front of the headquarters tent.
(Right) Mr. Yamashita led Chairperson Morita on a tour of the stores at the event site.
(Left) A talk show was held around a bonfire. The main topic of conversation was the hardships faced when crossing foreign borders by bicycle.
(Right) Mr. Morita introducing our NGO to the audience. “We want to continue to send wheelchairs overseas so that children with disabilities can go outside to breathe fresh air and bask in the sunshine.”
(Left) When Mr. Morita presented Mr. Yamashita with a T-shirt commemorating the 20th anniversary of the NGO and the presentation of 10,000 units to overseas countries, he immediately put it on. He is indeed a professional model.
（Right) This is a general view of the venue. On the left side, there are still tents, food trucks, etc. It was a lively two-day event.
This year will be the last time the event will be held at this location in Kasumigaura. We will miss it, but it was another great event.
On October 13, 2024, we had a monthly meeting in pleasant autumn weather. The sun was still quite strong, and we provided tents and tarps as we had before.
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