Established in 1994, it crafts wheelchairs that enhance the quality of life for many.
Now, one of these wheelchairs, born of this mission of compassion, has been presented to Pope Francis – a symbol of the Pope’s solidarity with the many vulnerable people around the world.
On the morning of 23 October, Fr Enrique Figaredo, SJ, the Apostolic Prefect of Battambang in Cambodia, led a small delegation to meet with Pope Francis to present to him a Mekong chair.
The word “Mekong” alludes to the Mekong river, the longest river in southeast Asia which flows through Cambodia.
With Cambodia being one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, landmines and unexploded ordinance (UXO) pose a severe threat to civilians, particularly in rural areas. As a result, thousands of people have been left with life-altering injuries, including amputations and severe mobility impairments.
In addition, poverty and other effects of war, such as the lack of access to polio vaccines, further worsened the situation. The disabled and the poor, often people from remote villages, were left marginalized, with little hope for inclusion in society.
Responding to this need, the Mekong chair was created in Cambodia with the help of Motivation International, as part of the Banteay Prieb project, a workshop outside Phnom Penh which was established by the Jesuits.
The Banteay Prieb project doubles as a technical education center for people with disabilities. It is supported by international organizations such as Manos Unidas, Misereor, and Obos, and for 30 years, has served as a sanctuary for healing, dignity, and empowerment.
The Mekong chair is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Cambodia’s disabled population. It is crafted from wood attached to a metal frame. It has three wheels and is adapted to withstand rugged terrains. It is the key to not only physical independence for many disabled people, but also to a renewed sense of purpose, especially in rural Cambodia where infrastructure is poor and those without mobility risk being left behind. For children, access to the Mekongchair means an increased possibility of going to school while, for adults, mobility represents access to means of livelihood.
Pope Francis has continuously championed the cause for protecting the poor and marginalized. In receiving this gift, this symbolic gesture will place the Pope alongside the countless men, women and children who have been restored to dignity through this simple yet significant invention.
The wheelchair, crafted by hand, embodies the resilience of the Cambodian people and the indomitable human spirit that can overcome the horrors of war. The presentation of the wheel chair is also a universal call to everyone to embrace compassion, healing and peace.
For Fr Enrique Figaredo, who is the initiator of this project, the Mekong chairs, apart from changing the lives of many people, also “transforms the lives of the people who give the chairs, because they become witnesses of the change it brings about in many people. A chair restores hope and offers a new vision of reality.” The Jesuit also considers the wheelchairs to be a sort of “sacrament” – an outward sign that inwardly transforms the lives of those who receive them, opening doors of opportunity to them.
As the wheelchair is presented to Pope Francis, it carries the stories of countless survivors of war, and the hope of many who have turned their personal stories of suffering into a force for good.
The journey of the Mekongchair from Cambodia to the Vatican symbolizes that no matter the distance, the dignity of every human life is universal.