Our Impact
Rolling Out Support Worldwide
From the hilltribe villages of Myanmar to the deserts of Morocco; from the Solomon Islands to Sierre Leone, our influence around the world has been widespread—providing mobility to thousands of children and families, regardless of location, race or religion.
For children with a mobility-impairment, receiving a wheelchair provides a pathway to education, better health outcomes and increased social connections—the basic building blocks of a life that many take for granted.
Too many children with disabilities spend their days left on the ground or a hard bed, being carried around by family or left behind when others go to school or play. A wheelchair raises children up giving them dignity, comfort and freedom to move.
Our Mission At Wheelchairs For Kids Australia (WFKA) Is Twofold
- To make a difference in the lives of mobility impaired children around the world; and
- To provide our community of volunteers with purpose and camaraderie.
Some Of The Life-changing Impacts Of Providing A Wheelchair To A Child Include
- Health: Being left on the ground or lying in a bed can lead to a host of preventable issues including pressure sores, chronic pain and exposure to unsanitary conditions. Sitting upright is safer, cleaner and can assist with better breathing, digestion and overall quality of life.
- Physical & Motor Development: Learning to manoeuvre a wheelchair builds physical strength, coordination and endurance. It engages the muscles of the arms, shoulders and core, which are vital for daily activities.
- Education & Opportunity: With mobility, children can attend school, often for the first time. Education opens the door to literacy, friendships and future employment.
- Social & Emotional Wellbeing: Raising a child to eye level with their peers is a powerful act of social inclusion. It allows them to participate in the world in a way that being on the ground does not.
- Family & Community: Disability and poverty are deeply intertwined. Having a child with a disability can place a huge financial burden on their family. Providing a wheelchair can allow parents to more easily work and improve living conditions for the whole family.
- Dignity & Joy: The simple act of sitting upright allows a child to meet others at eye level, to play and to feel included rather than hidden away.
A wheelchair does more than restore mobility - it restores hope, opportunity and humanity.
Fostering Connection And Community For Seniors
Our factory is filled with volunteers, the majority aged well over 60 years, who tell us that volunteering has transformed their lives every bit as much as the wheelchairs they build transform the lives of the children who receive them.
Our volunteers put decades of skills, life experience and heart into every wheelchair they build. They are engaged in all facets of production: from the manufacturing, assembling and packing; to cutting and sewing fabrics; and sorting rugs and toys which are distributed with every wheelchair we send.
Hundreds of additional volunteers work from home sewing the components used on the wheelchairs along with crocheting, knitting and sewing rugs and toys.
The Benefits Of Volunteering In Later Life Are Profound And Include
- Better physical and mental health through staying active and engaged.
- Reduced loneliness and isolation from making new friends and being part of a new community.
- Improved mood and sense of purpose—many volunteers say they feel younger and healthier when they have regular shifts to look forward to.
- Reduced stress, anxiety and depression from developing a renewed sense of purpose after retirement.
- A chance to leave a meaningful legacy, knowing their contribution is shaping brighter futures.
When you support Wheelchairs For Kids, you’re not only gifting mobility to children overseas - you’re also giving older Australians a chance to thrive in retirement.