On April 20, 2025, we had a monthly meeting with 25 participants; Sagami Women’s University group, Vietnamese group, Tama Technical High School graduates, Ethiopian group, general volunteers, and staff.

  Our activity day is the second Sunday of each month, but due to the rain forecast for April 13, we decided to postpone it to the following week. Because of this change in date, Tama Technical High School, a regular participant, was unable to attend due to a school excursion. Thankfully, however, two graduates from the school joined us, and they helped us strongly with the packing work.

  We did wheelchair cleaning and maintenance work for the Philippines. Last month, we decided on Indonesia as the new destination, and started the work, but it was suddenly changed to the Philippines because our partner in Indonesia was not ready to receive the shipment in time.

  We have finished packing 12 units, and 24 wheelchairs are ready to ship to the Philippines as a result. We aim to make a shipment around July 2025.

Thank you all for your participation.

April 21, 2025      Secretariat

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Vietnamese group working on cleaning wheelchairs immediately on arrival.

(Left) Sagami Women’s Univ. group members.
(Right) Graduates of Tama Technical High School.

(Left) Vietnamese group joined the packing work.
(Right) Sora’s team, in charge of cooking, made yakisoba, fried noodles, which went well with the commercial bento. We also enjoyed the homemade lemonade prepared in advance. Thank you, Sora-san, for always preparing delicious food for us.

　　　　　　　　　Thank you all for your hard work.

  On March 9, 2025, we had a meeting with 46 people including CMA CGM JAPAN K.K. members. Other members were Sagami Women’s University group, Vietnamese group, Ethiopian group, Nepalese group, general volunteers, and staff.

  This is the first time since December 2023 that the CMA CGN members have participated in our activities. In February 2024, we were invited to tour the company’s container terminal in Honmoku, Yokohama. We have had various interactions with the company over the years.

  On this day, we finished up the final 2 units for Nepal and did maintenance work on the newly started units for Indonesia. We completed 2 units for Nepal and 12 units for Indonesia, and made 5 units awaiting packing. We hope to ship 80 units for Nepal by the end of March.

  Thank you all for your participation.

March 13, 2025      Secretariat

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(Left) The Ethiopian group, the first to arrive at the venue, helps set up the venue as usual.
(Right) Volunteers are gathering one after another. Many thanks.

CMA CGM members cleaning wheelchairs with great care.

Nepalese group, who comes to our meetings and work continuously these days. A small boy is also participating.

(Left) Today’s main dish is an authentic Ethiopian curry with Ethiopian spices by Mr. Abebe.
(Right) Chef Sora is making salad with his friends. It was an excellent combination of curry and salad, and both were delicious.

Everyone enjoyed the delicious curry and salad, “Yummy!”

(Left) Chairperson Morita thanked everyone for their participation.
(Right) CMA CGM members after the work.

Today’s participants with their own flags. Thank you all for your hard work.

  On February 11, 2025, we had a meeting with 13 members from MFS Investment Management K.K. The temperature was rather low, but the sun was shining and we were able to work without feeling too cold.

  In addition to participating in activities such as a few times a year, the company has supported our NGO with a lot of support. Their support has enabled us to continue our activities in a stable manner.

  There was special participation by Director-Corporate Citizenship at MFS headquarter in the U.S., and her husband, and they were new to the wheelchair cleaning project. She said she was aware of MFS’s charitable activities throughout the world, but this kind of activity was very rare and she had never seen anything like it, and she thought it was wonderful. I think she understood the importance of our activities through the work experience of the day.

  The Japan office members also had a deep understanding of our NGO’s activities and worked very hard. And they said, “The activities of this NGO are wonderful. We hope it will continue forever.”

  We completed cleaning, maintenance and packing of 10 units. We now have 78 wheelchairs ready to ship to Nepal by the end of March. Thank you very much for your support.

February 13, 2025      Secretariat

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(Left) At the opening of the meeting, Chairperson Morita gave a speech of thanks. An employee from the Japan office is translating for the Director and her husband from Boston.
(Right) They were divided into teams of two or three to start the cleanup work.

MFS members worked hard to clean the wheelchairs. The gray T-shirts are the company’s volunteer uniforms.

The Director and her husband cleaned this wheelchair and had their signatures written on the MFS sticker and affixed to it.

Photo with the “Welcome” panel in the background. We also presented them with T-shirts commemorating our 10,000th unit and 20th anniversary.

They tried packing wheelchairs, too.

Lunchtime. Two guests from Boston also enjoyed the Japanese bento.

One of the participants served desserts that she had made the day before. Chiffon cake and fruit cake. They were extremely delicious.

Thank you all for your hard work. We hope to have the opportunity to work with you again.

  On February 9, 2025, we had a meeting with over 60 participants, the largest attendance in the last 5 years. There were Sagami Women’s University group, Ethiopian group, Vietnamese group, Tama Technical High School group, Nepalese group, general volunteers, and staff; 61 in total.

  The temperature was low that day due to the onset of a major cold wave, but the strong sunshine made for a perfect day for work.

  Ms. Dangol from Nepal, who has been a regular participant in our activities, encouraged the Nepalese group to join us. She talked to the people who were working at every opportunity, expressing her appreciation for this project by saying, “Thank you.”

  The Vietnamese group was the largest ever with 19 participants. They are really powerful. Tyne, to whom we have provided a wheelchair, came to our meeting with his family. Both he and his parents are very happy to have the wheelchair.

  With the large number of participants, we had 34 wheelchairs cleaned, maintained and packed. This is the first time since the Corona disaster that we have been able to produce such a large number of results. Thanks to your help, 68 units were completed for Nepal, and we expect to ship them to Nepal by the end of March or early April. Thank you all very much.　

February 10, 2025       Secretariat

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(Left) The Ethiopian group, the first to arrive, helped set up the venue, and everything was ready. Since over 60 participants were expected, we prepared 30 work sites.
(Right) Mr. Abebe raises the Ethiopian flag as soon as the set-up was finished.

(Left) Vietnamese group members. A large group, and it takes time to take temperature and register members.
(Right) Tama Technical High School has also arrived.

(Left) Sagami Women’s University group.
(Right) Nepalese group also got to work immediately after the reception.

(Left) Tyne, a member of the Vietnamese group, watches over his parents as they work.
(Right) Tyne and his parents pose for a photo. He is always smiling. Thank you for coming from so far away!

Sora, a regular chef, takes the lead in preparing a la carte items (takoyaki, etc.).

Sagami Women’s University group. Ethiopian group.

Vietnamese group was full of enthusiasm with a great number of people.

Nepalese group. Tama Technical High School group.

Thank you all for your hard work. We look forward to working with you next month.

  On January 12, 2025, we had the first meeting of the year with 54 participants: Sagami Women’s University group, Vietnamese group, Tama Technical High School group, Ethiopian group, Ukrainian group, general volunteers, and staff.

  It was cold in the morning, but gradually the sun shone through the clouds, making it a warm, perfect day for work.

  The number of participants in our regular meetings has not exceeded 50 for quite some time. We are grateful that so many people gathered at this time of winter, and we realize that this activity is supported by many of you.

  The aim of the day was to prepare for Nepal, which started last December. Thanks to the work of a large group of people, we were able to complete the cleaning, maintenance, and packing of 23 wheelchairs. We have now completed packing 33 units and plan to ship 90 to Nepal around April to June when they will be ready.

January 14, 2025      Secretariat

(How to see the photos)  Click on the photos to enlarge them.
	Ethiopian group, the first one to arrive, helps to set up the venue. Abebe is the only Ethiopian in the group. The others are his colleagues from his office, all Japanese. Everyone is participating in response to Mr. Abebe’s call.

(Left) Vietnamese group members arrive to take temperature and fill out contact information.
(Right) Later, Tama Technical High School group arrives and lines up to take temperature and fill out contact information.

The powerful Vietnamese group got right to work.

(Left) The Ethiopian group also started work under the direction of Mr. Abebe.
(Right) Setting up the work area on the side of the road where volunteers would get more sunlight.

  A regular group of Sagami Women’s University students also played an active role in cleaning and maintenance.

  Tama Technical High School group was divided into three teams and pushed forward with packing work. Like Vietnamese group, they had great power.

    Sagami Women’s University group.                  Vietnamese group.

Tama Technical High School group.

  Sora brothers and a friend, who are in charge of cooking, prepared baked sweet potatoes this day.

  They also served oshiruko (sweetened soup) with baked rice cakes. Both baked sweet potatoes and oshiruko were sweet and hot and delicious.

(Left)Vietnamese group with their national flag.
(Right)Sagami Women’s University group.

Tama Technical High School students after the work. Giving a review of today’s work?

Thank you all for your hard work.
We look forward to working with you again this year.

  ～ 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.

  Along with the work, the annual year-end rice-cake pounding event was held, creating a festive atmosphere that made the meeting enjoyable.

  The participants were Nikko Asset Management and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group members (including three children), Ethiopian Group, Vietnamese group, Sagami Women’s University group, general volunteers, and staff, 39 in total.

  In addition to their participation in these meeting activities, the members of Nikko Asset Management Co. support our NGO with donations from their employees and the company.

  With such participants, work has begun on a new project. As for the shipping destination, Nepal is currently the most promising. The results of the day’s work were 10 wheelchairs completed packed, and 9 wheelchairs cleaned and maintained to completion.

  A radio program production staff from NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) came to cover this activity, which is scheduled to be broadcast on December 13. We will provide more details as soon as they are available.

  Thank you all for your support over the year. I look forward to working with you again next year.

December 10, 2024      Secretariat

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Tatami mats and plywood arranged around a warm, sunny area and wheelchairs for cleaning placed on top of them. Now ready to receive volunteers.

Vietnamese group taking temperatures and filling out name and contact information for ongoing corona control on arrival. The Ethiopian flag, which Mr. Abebe raises first each time, welcomes everyone.

(Left) Members of Nikko AM and SMTG have arrived.
(Right) Abebe and his group getting to work.

Members of Nikko AM and SMTG. The children did a good job of wheelchair cleaning with their mothers.

Vietnamese group did a great job, including some beginners.

〇Mochi-tsuki(rice cake poundng)

Sounds of “Pettan, pettan” echoes through the air, reminding us of the end of the year.

Everyone enjoyed freshly pounded mochi into ankoro (red bean paste), grated daikon (grated radish), and yolk powder rice cakes. Children also participated in making ankoro. We also prepared pork miso soup with rice cake inside. It was delicious.

〇Photos after the work.

(Left) Vietnamese group. They always participate in the meeting without fail.
(Right) Nikko AM and SMTG. This is the first time since April 2, 2023 that they joined our activities. Thank you for your support both through participation in the activities and donations!

Finally, Chairperson Morita thanked everyone for their participation. He also reported that it was the 20th anniversary and that we had reached 10,000 units, and introduced the T-shirts.

Thank you very much for participating in our last meeting of the year.
Please join us again next year.

  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.

  For Mongolia, the original plan was to send 90 wheelchairs in a 20-foot container. However, due to the large number of oversized wheelchairs that had already been packed, it became clear that the 20-foot container would not be able to hold the 90 wheelchairs. So we decided to switch to a 40-foot container.

  This is the first time for us to send wheelchairs to our Mongolian partner, the recipient of this project, on our own. Therefore, we decided to send as many different wheelchairs and equipment as possible for evaluation. The switch to the 40-foot container allowed us to prepare a larger and more diverse selection of equipment.

  The contents to be sent to Mongolia this time are as follows: 52 wheelchairs, 13 buggy types, 12 sitting-aid devices, 3 stretchers, 15 walking trainers, 7 standing trainers, 3 bath chairs, and 2 car seats, for a total of 107 units. We also packed 64 prostheses for lower limb support and 8 headgears for head protection in 4 cardboard boxes. It is thanks to the many volunteers that we are able to send such a large number of units.

  Vietnamese group prepared “pho” for lunch that day. When they arrived, several members in charge of cooking began preparing the pho. Watching them, it was clear that they put a lot of time and effort into it. At lunchtime, all the participants enjoyed the pho in bowls and raved about how delicious it was. “It’s like we’re in Vietnam, though I’ve never been there,” they exclaimed.

  We had a special guest on that day. We handed over a wheelchair to one of the Vietnamese volunteers whose son needed one on August 18. The boy came with his parents on his wheelchair. They really appreciate the wheelchair. However, they had the request for its noisy plastic casters and the height of the seat. We immediately replaced the casters with rubber ones and added an extra seat cushion. He was delighted and seemed comfortable. Later, Tyne joined us in cleaning wheelchairs with his mother.

  It was a happy event for us to be able to connect with different people through our activities. We will continue our activities with the participation of many people in the future. Thank you again, everyone.

November 12, 2024      Secretariat

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Ethiopian group, the first to arrive, is setting up the venue again today. They know how to do it, so they are moving ahead on their own.

Once the venue is set up, they begin cleaning and maintenance work.

Tama Technical High School group is in charge of packing.

Vietnamese group is also starting work. Experienced members lead the work.

(Left) Tyne’s wheelchair. An additional cushion was installed by a volunteer, Ms. T, and the front wheel casters were replaced by our staff.
(Right) Ms. T explained the correct way to ride the wheelchair to his parents.

(Left) Tyne and his mother are cleaning a wheelchair.
(Right) Tyne with his father, mother, and Chairperson Morita.

Vietnamese group enjoying making pho.

Pho (left) and Mimigar salad (right) on today’s menu.

(Left) Ethiopian group enjoying Vietnamese cuisine.
(Right) Tama Technical High School teachers and students.

      Wheelchair　　　　　　buggy　　　　　 sitting aid　　　　 walking trainer

   standing trainer　　　　car seat　　　　　　stretcher　　　　　bath chair

(Left)prostheses(for lower limb support)
(Right)headgear(for head protection)

  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.

  The participants were Sagami Women’s University group, Vietnamese group, Tokyo Akishima Chuo Rotary Club members, Tama Technical High School group, Ethiopian group, general volunteers, staff members, and several guests. We had a total of 51 people!

  The guests were Mr. and Mrs. V from Ukraine (plus their three-year-old daughter), Mr. and Mrs. Y from Hamamatsu, Mr. B from Mongolia, and Ms. D and her daughter from Nepal.

  The work of the day was cleaning, maintenance, and packing for Mongolia, which started in June. The cleaning and maintenance work was done by a veteran Vietnamese group and members of the Akishima Chuo Rotary Club. Of course, the Ethiopian group, Sagami Women’s University group, and general volunteers also played an active role.

  The Tama Technical High School group, the largest ever to join in the meeting, took the lead in the packing process, working in three teams to complete one package after another.

  Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we completed our goal of 20 wheelchairs by just after 2:00 pm. We now have 80 units for Mongolia; we will complete the remaining 10 units in November and ship them to Mongolia by the end of November or early December.

  Thank you all for participating today. And thank you for your hard work.

October 16, 2024      Secretariat

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(Left) The Ethiopian group arrived much earlier than the other volunteers to help set up the tents and tarps at the venue.
(Right) Mr. Abebe of the Ethiopian group put up the Ethiopian flag at the venue.

(Left) Rotary club members put up their club flag and the Mongolian flag.
(Right) After the venue was set up, the Rotary Club members immediately got to work.

Rotary club members were wearing matching white T-shirts with the club’s logo.

The Vietnamese team arrived and immediately began cleaning and maintenance work.

                        The Ehiopian group also began working.

Tama Technical High School was divided into three teams for packing. They were very powerful.

This is Ms. D and her daughter from Nepal. (The white hat is the mother and the striped shirt is the daughter.)   They live close to the venue, so they often come to see our activities these days. Today we worked together.

During the activity, T-shirts made in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the founding of our NGO and the 10,000th wheelchair donation were distributed and worn by the participants.

These are the S brothers who are making salads. They always make delicious food, but today they are in charge of salads.   Today we enjoyed Ethiopian curry prepared by Abebe. (I forgot to take a picture of Abebe-san cooking. Sorry!)

(Left) The Tama Technical High School group is pleased with the special curry by Mr. Abebe.
(Right) Mr. Y, who used to join in our activities once a month as a member of Boy Scout Akiruno Troop 1 from 2007 to 2011, came again after more than 10 years. This time he is with his wife, who is from Vietnam. They worked with the Vietnamese group.

(Left) Vietnamese group also enjoys Ethiopian curry.
(Right) Valeria’s family from Ukraine.

Ethiopian group. Sagami Women’s Uni group.

(Left) Valeria from Ukraine (the woman in the dark red shirt) thanked us for sending wheelchairs to Ukraine.
(Right) Mr. Morita, the chairperson, introduced the T-shirts and thanked everyone for their participation.

(Left)Akishima Chuo Rotary Club members and Mr. Morita.
(Right)Today’s participants. Thank you all for your hard work!

  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. The person who sent us a consulting e-mail after being introduced by JICA was Tokyo-based Tuzi Valeria, who is an ambassador for Misto Dobra, a charity organization active in Ukraine.

  We’ve been supporting Ukraine with other organizations. When we asked her about the recipient of the wheelchairs, she gave us the following detailed information about Misto Dobra, the charity organization in Ukraine.

  “Misto Dobra was founded in 2016 as a place to protect and provide complex assistance to women and children in difficult living conditions, families suffering from violence, and children in need of palliative treatment and rehabilitation. Currently, Misto Dobra also assists children who have been forced to evacuate due to war; Misto Dobra is home to some 300 people, including the following.
　　- Orphans from evacuated boarding schools
　　- Seriously ill children
　　- Mothers with children in need of physical, mental or medical protection;
        mothers who are unable to raise their children due to poverty and are in         danger of having their children transferred to an orphanage
　　- People who have lost their homes due to war
　　- People suffering from domestic violence, etc.
  Misto Dobra receives no state support and is funded solely by caring people who want to be involved in solving the problems of establishing shelters, caring for children, and overcoming poverty and insecurity among the most downtrodden Ukrainians.”

  The Ukrainian Embassy arranged for a container to leave Japan in October to carry the relief supplies to Ukraine, and she asked if we could put about 15 wheelchairs on that container, which would then be delivered to Misto Dobra in Ukraine without fail.

  After Valeria’s explanation, we decided to send 15 wheelchairs to Ukraine. However, at that point, the September meeting was over and we would not be able to clean and maintain wheelchairs. So, we held a temporary meeting on October 6 to do the preparatory work for the shipment.

  Due to the poor weather conditions, we had to call for help on short notice, and although we had fewer people than usual, we somehow managed to finish packing 15 units thanks to everyone’s hard work. We’re really grateful for that.

October 9, 2024      Secretariat

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We set up tents and tarps as it was raining lightly in the morning.

We selected wheelchairs in good condition that could be packed immediately and began packing them.

(Left) Cleaning and safety-related repairs and checks were done.
(Right) After cleaning and maintenance were completed, MFS stickers were put to show those who did the work.

(Left) Two people (Mr. F and Mr. S) from MFS Investment Management Co. Mr. F(on the right) is pointing to where the company’s sticker is attached.
(Right) The company had made the stickers when they participated in the past meetings, and we still had some in stock. We put their stickers on all the wheelchairs. Our NGO’s stickers were also attached.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, the work was completed after 12:00 p.m. and we had lunch together.

The chairperson, Mr. Morita, thanked everyone for coming together on this extraordinary day. Thank you all.

We look forward to seeing you all again!

  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. Dangerously hot days still remain in September. We kept calling out “Take plenty of water and rest!” during the monthly meeting on this day.

  The participants were Sagami Women’s University group, Vietnamese group, Tama Technical High School group, general volunteers, and staff, 30 in total.

  We urged them to work in the shade of tents, tarps, or warehouses, as working in the sun was strictly forbidden. We also made sure that they stayed hydrated at all times. Cold tea, sports drinks, ice cream, etc. were provided on this day.

  Thanks to everyone’s hard work, 17 wheelchairs have been cleaned, maintained and packed. We now have 57 wheelchairs ready for Mongolia.

September 11, 2024      Secretariat

A view of the warehouse and the thermometer after 9:00 in the morning. It was already showing 32°C. The humidity was also quite high at 68%.

Tama Technical High School teachers and students immediately began packing work.

(Left) Tama Technical High School had a large number of members, so they were divided into two packing teams and one cleaning team.
(Right) The leader of the Sagami Women’s University group (the woman squatting backward) joined the cleaning team of Tama Technical High School in a support role. This is where interaction between a university student and high school students takes place!

The 10 members of the Vietnamese group worked simultaneously under two tents to clean and maintain three wheelchairs.

We prepared lots of cold drinks. We also had drinks brought in and two cooler boxes and one cooler bag were full.

The Sora brothers prepared lunch again today. It was a gorgeous version of takikomi-gohan, yakitori, salad, and melon. Ice cream was also served after lunch.

Vietnamese group at lunchtime.

Tama Technical High School group eating ice cream together.

Thank you all for coming in the heat!