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