Frequently Asked Questions

It is estimated that at least 100 million children, teens and adults worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one. Some international organizations believe that the number could be as high as 6% of the population of developing countries. For example, this number is estimated to be 20% of the population of Angola, or 12 million people. Other Sub-Saharan Africa countries such as Kenya, Benin, Burundi, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, DRC, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Cote d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria also have extremely high physical disability rates.

We purchase from a manufacturer in China that builds quality, medical-grade, ISO certified wheelchairs designed to be easily maintained in developing countries.

For every donation of $150 we can purchase and deliver a wheelchair to those in need of mobility. Wheelchairs of similar quality would normally sell for $500 in the United States.

We distribute wheelchairs across Africa through a network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have ongoing humanitarian relief missions in the countries of wheelchair destination. These distribution partners handle all aspects of the importation and distribution of the wheelchairs to children who can now go to school, adults who are able to seek employment and seniors that can once again become an active part of family life and society.

We send wheelchair containers to our distribution partners in countries that have been identified with the greatest needs. Where an individual or group of donors provide sufficient funds to sponsor a full container of wheelchairs, they are able to select a destination from our list of approved countries. There are currently 54 countries on the list. Please contact us for more information about approved destination countries.

For every $150 tax-deductible donation, you will receive a personalised certificate of appreciation with a colour photograph of a wheelchair recipient — a person whose quality of life was greatly improved by the gift of a wheelchair.

Yes. The wheelchairs that we distribute are specifically designed for the rough conditions of developing countries. Extra heavy wheels, tires, and front casters, sealed bearings and nylon seating make these wheelchairs the best possible for most conditions.

We work with a wide range of organisations — both local and international, governmental and NGO — that are able to import containers free of duty. Partners are selected based on their capacity to distribute wheelchairs to those most in need while maintaining shipment security and the integrity of our organisation.

We deliver standard manual wheelchairs in five seat widths: 12", 14", 16", 18", and 20". The 12" and 14" are typically given to children and small adults; 16", 18", and 20" are for adults. Our wheelchairs are not intended for individuals with extreme disabilities such as CP, Polio (in some cases), spinal cord injuries, or motor control disabilities — these individuals may require more specialised devices.

You can help in several ways: Make a tax-deductible donation of $150 to fund one wheelchair. Host a fundraiser — a dinner or event in your home to tell people about our work. Spread the word to everyone you know. Seek Corporate Sponsorship — help us find corporations with interests in countries we serve. We can target their sponsorship to specific countries and will put a sticker on the wheelchair identifying the container sponsor.

Absolutely. Our volunteers are engaged in many roles including fundraising, coordination of wheelchair distributions, transportation and storage of wheelchairs, photography, and administrative support. Visit our Volunteer page to see current opportunities, or contact us at 815-346-5499.