About

Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia is a faith-based, volunteer-powered, humanitarian, and worldwide organization. We operate as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and incorporated in the state of MO.

Mission

To provide appropriate mobility for all of God’s children in need. We seek to provide mobility first for those in greatest need and with the least resources in poor or underdeveloped countries.

Vision

To lift persons with leg disabilities out of the dirt and into a fuller life.

Goal

Build and ship 4,000 Mobility Carts per year (77 carts per week) by the end of 2027.

Large crank Mobility Cart with newer seat design

Mobility (Personal Energy Transportation) Beginnings

Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia started our whole mission family and was known as the PET Project. 

We began in 1994 when Reverend Larry Hills, missionary in Zaire (now Congo), Africa, told Reverend Mel West of the great need for three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs for victims of polio and landmines. Mel contacted Earl Miner, product designer and long-time friend and mission partner, and the process of the prototype design began.

In 1995, When prototype development was ready for field testing, four were shipped to Larry Hills with the instructions to “put these in the worst place you can find, and see if they pass the test.” Larry did, and the Mobility Carts did. Shipments began to Zaire, where Larry had set up a place to receive the frames, put on the wooden beds, and distribute them. See history for the full story.

Philosophy

Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia is not limited to just this particular model of machine. Besides raising funds for building Mobility Carts, we collect other used mobility devices such as canes, foldable walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs.

Our goal is the Gift of Mobility for all of God’s people in need. We will cooperate and share with anyone working toward that goal. We seek to involve lay persons in the Church as major servants in this mission. We want to work with all groups, religious or secular and seek to provide mobility first for those in greatest need and with least resources.

Mobility Cart Design

Mobility Cart design is controlled and overseen by Mobility Worldwide, and the Mobility Carts are produced at the Affiliate sites. The Mobility Cart has been extensively field tested and is designed to be:

  • STURDY, in order to provide services for the rider for many years
  • SIMPLE, to be easily maintained in outpost conditions
  • LOW-COST, so the donor dollar can serve as many as possible – $425

These requirements have led to the following details of the design:

  • Hand-cranked: The hand-cranked model has proven most successful in most field conditions.
  • Sturdy tires: The Mobility Cart uses sturdy and low cost wheelbarrow wheels and solid tires.
  • Three versions are made: small & large crank sizes and Pull Mobility Carts for those who do not have upper body strength or coordination. A missionary in Zambia says in his area there are as many in need of this new design, Pull, as the standard crank Mobility Cart.
  • Adaptability: The Mobility Cart can be adapted to a wide variety of bed or seat configurations.
  • Simple brakes: The Mobility Cart has a front-wheel brake, with a simple parking brake.

Pull Mobility Cart

Despite this robustness, the Mobility Cart is not an all-terrain vehicle.

It will not go everywhere.

Its ability to move is limited to the muscle power of the driver. As the driver uses the vehicle more, he/she gains strength. The Mobility Cart moves out at about the speed of a fast walk.

There are always “trade-offs” in designing any machine. The crank pedals of the Mobility Cart always turn. This gives a needed reverse gear, but when coasting downhill the driver should remove his/her hand from the cranks and steer with the steering tiller/brake handle, slowing the speed by pushing down on the brake handle.

Places of Use

Mobility Worldwide mission family has sent mobility to the following countries to date:

  • Afghanistan
  • Armenia
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Bangladesh
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia
  • Brasil
  • Bulgaria
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Chad
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
  • Dominican Republic
  • Djibouti
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Fiji
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Gaza
  • Ghana
  • Guatemala
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iraq
  • Jamaica
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kosovo
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Republic of Botswana
  • Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
  • Republic of Congo
  • Republic of Latvia
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • South Sudan
  • Swaziland
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vietnam
  • West Bank
  • Western Sahara
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe