The ship loaded with 175 wheelchairs left Tokyo port at 16:30, July 20, for our new overseas partner, Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development, RICD, in Thailand. As for RICD, we had received a request to send them children’s wheelchairs from Mr. Tani, the chief director of an NPO “Wheelchairs of Hope.”
“Wheelchairs of Hope,” quite similar to our NGO, is an organization which has been working on sending wheelchairs to overseas countries since 2006. Their wheelchairs, however, are for grownups only and they have often been asked for children’s wheelchairs by their overseas partners. Mr. Tani, aware of our activities, has made the above request of us.
It took a while for us to make a decision because we couldn’t include RICD into our donating schedule right away, but we did decide to send them our wheelchairs this time. The reason is that we appreciate RICD’s posture of wheelchair management as below.
1. RICD understands that Japanese wheelchairs are of high quality and that
even used wheelchairs are usable enough.
2. RICD are capable of refurbishing wheelchairs themselves.
3. RICD can make sure whether or not each wheelchair is fit for its user in
providing wheelchairs for children.
4. RICD has built up a system that they can repair wheelchairs when they
are broken or not in order.
5. RICD can provide a bigger wheelchair when a child outgrow their
wheelchair by exchanging wheelchairs, and they can also provide such
outgrown wheelchair for another child who is fit for it.
Mr. Tani explained to us about RICD(click here to see the video introducing what RICD is like) and we’ve got to consider RICD as our new partner. RICD’s request was that they want wheelchairs as soon as possible, they can refurbish wheelchairs if wheelchairs are sent un-refurbished, and they will bear the expenses of marine transport. So we’ve sent 175 wheelchairs un-refurbished. The ship is to arrive at Laem Chabang Port, Thailand on August 2. The total number of wheelchairs sent to Thailand so far is 780. Please refer to the donation record graph.
The situation of COVID-19 infection in Thailand is quite serious now. I do hope the 175 wheelchairs will reach RTCD safely and be delivered to children who need them.
July 21, 2021 Hirokazu Morita
〇Loading wheelchairs into the container.
We loaded wheelchairs into the container at Tachihi Warehouse of Nishitama Transport Company, Tachikawa, on July 13. The 40-foot container has become full of wheelchairs.
The 40-foot container leaving for Tokyo Port.