Uyen
About this project
Uyen's team of Makers designed a special wheelchair that can support her body and expand as she grows. The wheelchair is very affordable at a cost of only $88.
The challenge
Uyen’s family came to the TOM community looking for a chair that would be suitable to support her spine, adjust its size (height, width) for her growth, be flexible for different usage, and be made out of a material that would provide good air circulation for extended sitting. A wheelchair costs about $2000 on average and must be replaced every two years, while the family currently only earns $300 a month.
Who it helps
This is the toughest case brought to TOM:Vietnam. Phuong Uyen is a beautiful little 4-year old girl. But unfortunately, she was born with physical disabilities and severe cerebral palsy. Her limbs are very weak and she’s unable to move. She can’t control her head and neck which caused spinal deformity. She can’t sit, self feed, or walk. She has to completely depend on her mom and grandmother. At the age of 4, she is supposed to be exploring the world around her, testing her limits. But she only knows “the world” in the 4 walls of her house. Her mother sadly shared, ”Uyen really wants to go out. If I [mother] don’t carry her out, she will shout and cry. But after carrying her for a long time, she gets hurt because it causes bad blood circulation situation and bruises on her limbs. I’m also too busy doing house chores to take her out frequently.”
Project details
- Stage: Prototype
- Built by the Ho Chi Minh City community, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Category: Daily Living
- 30 downloads
The build files for Uyen are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.
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