SAKURA Wheelchair Project

• What is SAKURA Project?

Our project is not just sending wheelchairs to other countries, but it is to MOTIVATE and to EMPOWER people with disabilities to live and participate fully in both social and economic development of society through transfer of knowledge, technical skills and capacity building that is based on the philosophy of Independent Living (IL).

• IL – Independent Living of People with Disabilities

The concept of Independent Living (IL) of people with disabilities, that is to live in the community with self-determination in order to fully participate in the society, was emerged in 1970’s from US. The Japanese disability community has learned the IL concept and taught countries in Asia. With the leadership of many disability advocates in collaboration with supporters/donors, Japanese IL movement has grown successfully within Japan and taking the lead of international disability movement throughout Asia.

• JIL – Japan Council of Independent Living Centers

The first IL Center in Japan was established in 1986 and since then, the number of centers has been growing. (130 Centers as of 02/2014) JIL, together with other disability organizations in Japan, has supported people with disabilities in Asia through sharing of knowledge, IL skills and individual empowerment. Many trainees of Japan IL movement have initiated IL movement in their respected countries. This has contributed and changed the lives people with disabilities in Asian countries.

• SAKURA Wheelchair Project ~Empowerment and Economic Contribution by People with Disabilities ~

JIL has been working with local disability NGO, MILESTONE whose Founder was trained in Japan, to advance the quality of life in Pakistan. In order to address the needs of people with severe disabilities who require electric wheelchairs (those who cannot use manual wheelchairs due to severeness of their disabilities), SAKURA Project not only to send wheelchairs, but also train members of MILESTONE about know-how on maintenance of wheelchairs so that more people with severe disabilities could gain quality of life as well as those with disabilities who receive training on technical skills gain incentives to “work” and to fully achieve Independent Living.