The Signing of the Grant Contract regarding Grassroots Grant Assistance Project for Purchasing a Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle with a Lift for Welfare Home in Sandakan

Mr. Lawrence Hee Qui Shing, President of Sabah Cheshire Home and Services (left) and Mr. Yamashita Yoshito, Head of Consular Office of Japan in Kota Kinabalu (right)

The Signing of the Grant Contract regarding Grassroots Grant Assistance Project for Fiscal Year 2025 for purchasing a  wheelchair-accessible vehicle with a lift for welfare home in Sandakan
 
○ Date: 19th November 2025 (Wednesday)
○ Venue: Consular Office of Japan in Kota Kinabalu
 
The Government of Japan has extended Grant Assistance to Sabah Cheshire Home and Services through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle with a lift for the welfare home in Sandakan, Sabah. The Grant Contract was signed by Mr. YAMASHITA Yoshito, Head of Consular Office of Japan in Kota Kinabalu and Mr. Lawrence Hee Qui Shing, President of Sabah Cheshire Home and Services.

Sabah Cheshire Home and Services, which was officially registered in 1974, has been providing residential care and training over 40 years to promote independence for persons with disabilities regardless of their race, religion, and culture since it officially opened the first welfare home in Kota Kinabalu in 1983. In the Kota Kinabalu home, the economic empowerment programs such as housekeeping, laundry, and confectionery production and the accessible transportation service called “Cheshire Mobility” for people on wheelchair and low mobility have been offered. The transportation service has been utilizing the wheelchair-accessible vehicle with a lift, which the Government of Japan donated through the Japan's Grant Assistance Grass-Roots Human Security Project for FY 2020.

In the second home in Sandakan, which was opened in 2000, Sabah Cheshire Home and Services is running a nursery for early education to children with special needs and the second-hand shop, which enables individuals with disabilities to secure employment opportunities.

The only vehicle at the Sandakan Home had become so worn out over time. In addition, it was unsafe and inconvenient for the wheelchair users and staff as it was not equipped with a hydraulic loader system and restraint system. However, despite its bad conditions, due to the lack of funding source to purchase a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle with a lift to be replaced, they had no choice to continue to use it as the vehicle is essential for them to transport the residents and children.

Through this grant, Sabah Cheshire Home and Services will be provided with a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle with a lift, which will improve the safety and convenience for the residents, children and staff in the Sandakan Home to go out to execute their daily tasks, such as hospital appointments, visiting the welfare office, attending the invited events outside the home, and any other outings and administration purposes, and ensure the opportunities for them to live as independently as possible depending their abilities in the communities in Sabah.
 
[Project  for the Provision of Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle with a Lift for Welfare Home in Sandakan, Sabah]
○Grant Limit: USD61,584
○For provision of: 1 wheelchair-accessible vehicle with a lift
○Requested by: Sabah Cheshire Home and Services 

Group Photo of all attendees of the signing ceremony