On April 14, 2024, we had a meeting under the clear skies. The participants were Sagami Women’s University group, Vietnamese group, Ethiopian group, Yokota Air Base group, Akishima Chuo Rotary Club members, general volunteers, and staff: 29 in total.
The U.S. Air Force Yokota Air Base Group will join the regular meeting from this time after an experience meeting for base members on April 2. We would like to continue to include such international exchanges in our meetings from now on.
The project for the Philippines continues: we have completed and packed 11 units. This brings the total to 28 wheelchairs for the Philippines. Another 10 units have been cleaned and maintained and are waiting to be packed. We will keep working at this pace for the next round and beyond.
Thank you all for your hard work.
April 21, 2024 Secretariat
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
(Left) Abebe, the Ethiopian group leader, and his group members helped set up the venue early in the morning. They laid out plywood and old tatami mats to clean and maintain wheelchairs and placed wheelchairs on them.
(Right) The Ethiopian flag was put on the wall of the warehouse today. Abebe has established the NPO Adei Ababa Ethiopian Association in Yotsugi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, to manage it. Most of its members are Japanese, and its purpose is to support Ethiopians living in Japan. Mr. Abebe, a regular member of our NGO, approached members of the association who had stopped coming during Corona and said he would increase the number of people mobilized in the future.
The venue setup is ready. It is a great help to complete the preparations early.
The Vietnamese group arrives immediately and gets to work right away.
(Left) The Vietnamese group.
(Right) These are two members of the Ethiopian group. The woman on the right said, “I’m enjoying working here again. It’s been a long time.”
Since the sunlight became stronger, we hurriedly put up two tents and three tarps. It will be hot again this year, I guess.
(Left) Sagami Women’s University group started with packing work.
(Right) Vietnamese group and Sagami Women’s University group worked together on packing.
This is the Yokota Air Base group. They are working with a crisp and steady motion.
Today’s lunch was Abebe’s special Ethiopian curry. The curry powder was imported from Ethiopia, and the curry, simmered for three days, tasted fantastic.
Sagami Women’s University group. Vietnamese group.
Yokota Air Base group. Ethiopian group.
We all enjoyed Abebe’s curry. Thank you, Abebe-san!
Thank you everyone!