11/10/2026
Another hugely successful wheelchair mission and update from Global Village Foundation. Bali
10 October 2026
"On the remote Indonesian island of Sumba (400kms south west of Bali), where even the most basic mobility equipment is almost impossible to access, something truly life-changing started today.
The Global Village Foundation Bali (GVF) wheelchair team is finally in Sumba (09 - 15 October) to begin delivering and custom-fitting 90 Wheelchairs For Kids Australia wheelchairs — the first part of an ambitious program that will ultimately deliver 250-350 children's wheelchairs across this island over the coming months.
It is being undertaken in collaboration with our partners Wheelchairs For Kids Australia & with the support of our wonderful friends at the Rotary Club Mandurah Districts in Western Australia.
Our first day has brought us to the small, remote town of Tambolaka in Southwest Sumba, where 20 children are receiving their new wheelchairs today.
For every child receiving a wheelchair today, this is a first. None have previously had the opportunity to own a wheelchair properly fitted to their individual needs.
In the islands east of Bali, finding a suitable wheelchair for a child with a disability is virtually impossible. These children and their families face enormous challenges, and access to something that so many of us take for granted can transform a child's world — opening up opportunities to play, learn, participate in family life & experience new social activities, gaining greater independence and dignity.
Getting to this point has taken nine months of planning, coordination and determination. Delivering wheelchairs to remote islands like Sumba is no simple undertaking. It requires careful logistics, reliable partners, perseverance and the commitment of many people who share our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their potential.
Tomorrow, the team faces another eight-hour overland journey to Waingapu in the east, where three more days of wheelchair fittings await.
It's a challenging journey to make, but when we see the difference these wheelchairs make in the lives of these children, we know that every km is worth it."
