On October 6, 2024, we had a temporary work meeting with 11 participants including two employees from MFS Investment Management Co. At the end of August, we had got an inquiry asking about sending wheelchairs to Ukraine.
  To read more,,,

  On September 8, 2024, the temperature before 9:00 a.m. was 29°C, but soon exceeded 30. The sun was not so strong as in August in the morning, but gradually became stronger, and by noon the temperature exceeded 40°C.
  To read more,,,

  On August 18, 2024, we had a monthly meeting and there were many groups coming. One of the Vietnamese group participants spoke to us, “My son has a lower limb disability and needs a wheelchair. We are currently in the process of applying to the Japanese government office, but have been told that it will be a year at the earliest before we can get a wheelchair. Could you please provide us with a wheelchair from your warehouse that you think would be suitable for my son?”

  After discussing with the chairperson, we came to the conclusion that although Japanese assistance would be available in the future, if it would take more than a year, providing a wheelchair to foreign residents in Japan until then would not go against the main purpose of our NGO’s activities.

  We immediately asked about the child’s size and searched for a wheelchair that might be a good candidate. Fortunately, we found a beautiful wheelchair that was unused and in brand new condition. After the activity, the mother pushed the wheelchair home. She was very happy. She said, “Now my child can move around freely. Thank you so much.”

  Although this donation was an unprecedented case, it has become the consensus of our NGO to “provide wheelchairs to children overseas, even in cases like this one.” We are sure that the Japanese mothers who have been donating wheelchairs to our NGO with the promise that we will deliver the wheelchairs to children overseas will agree.

  We would like to deliver as many disused wheelchairs as possible to children overseas.

September 2, 2024      Secretariat

  From the mother, we received a photo of her smiling child in a wheelchair.

  He seems really happy. This is the bond that our regular meeting activities have brought us together.
(Click on the photo to enlarge)

  On August 18, 2024, we had a monthly meeting still in the extreme heat of summer. The second Sunday in August was also the middle of a three-day weekend, as in July, so the meeting was moved to the third Sunday, August 18.
  To read more,,,

  On July 30, 2024, we went to Wakabadai Special School in Yokohama. In the extreme heat with temperatures exceeding 36ºC, some teachers and PTA members were waiting for us to pick up wheelchairs.

  The number of wheelchairs provided that day was 24 as follows.
10 wheelchairs, 2 buggy types, 6 walkers, 5 standing trainers, and 1 bath chair.

  This school has provided us with wheelchairs consecutively since 2018. When picking up the wheelchairs, I always realize the wonderful cooperation between the PTA board members and the teachers. I believe it is because of this cooperation that the school has been providing us with wheelchairs year after year without interruption. I would like to thank you again.

  I told them that this year’s wheelchairs would be sent to Mongolia and Thailand. I also asked them to provide them again next year.

July 31, 2024      Secretariat

PTA board members and teachers were waiting for us. Then the truck arrived.

The school staff carried wheelchairs and other items from the premises to the front of the truck one by one. The 24 wheelchairs were loaded into the truck in a short time.

Thank you very much for your help in spite of the extremely hot weather.

  On July 21, 2024, we had a monthly meeting taking care of the extremely hot weather. Our monthly meeting is held on the second Sunday of the month, but since this month’s meeting falls in the middle of the three-day weekend of Saturday 13, Sunday 14, and Monday 15, we decided to change the meeting to the third Sunday of the month, the 21st. As predicted, the weather was clear and the temperature at the meeting site was 38°C with a humidity of 44%.
  To read more,,,

  On June 17, 2024, the ship left Tokyo port for our Philippino partner, Jesus V.Del Rosario Foundation(JVR).

  It is carrying 52 wheelchairs, 10 buggy types, 10 walkers, 5 standing trainers, 3 sitting aids, 1 car seat, 1 stretcher, and 1 bus chair, 83 in total, and is scheduled to arrive at the port of Manila on July 7.

  The JVR Foundation distributes wheelchairs and other euipment from our NGO to various kinds of fascilities. Therefore special devices such as walkers and stretchers will also be used in hospitals and other facilities.

  This brings the total number of wheelchairs, etc. sent to the Philippines to 1,044. For a graph of donation results, please click here.

June 19, 2024      Secretariat

  Prior to the departure, loading of the containers took place on June 12 at Tama Packaging Industries Co. in Hamura City. The following is how it went at the event.

(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.

The wheelchairs stored in the warehouse are transported by forklift and loaded into containers.

From this time on, we are using two forms of packing for wheelchairs. On the left is packing with plastic wrap. On the right is a new packaging method using old blankets. The old plastic wrap needs to be disposed of as garbage by the receiving partner. We have started this with the idea that blankets can be reused in daily life after being washed.

After loading, we saw the truck off as it headed for the container yard at the Port of Tokyo.

  On June 9th, 2024, we had our monthly meeting under calm weather, just like the May meeting. We worked comfortably without the need for a tent or tarp to keep out the sun.     To read more,,,