2016 Stories
Exciting updates are coming in from the Ivory Coast known as Côte d’Ivoire in French. Several years ago 1040i in OK became a PET distribution partner in two African countries. In our Fall 2015 newsletter, Gary Moreau, our Executive Director, wrote about our new relationship with the 1040i project in Côte d’Ivoire. Thru your help, we are now going to directly fill PET orders and help with additional overseas shipping expenses to Côte d’Ivoire.
* November 2015 shipment (see website page): 174 adult, 16 child, 10 Pull, 7 boxes of repair parts for older PETs, 6 mini-marts to set up a business on the PET, and used walkers & crutches
* January 2016 Gary left for 2 weeks in Côte d’Ivoire: With your funding support, we were able to send Gary to further this partnership. He is leading the PET reassembly and distribution, looking for current PET owners to evaluate, and looking for a person that could potentially become our field staff support to repair/maintain older PETs with supplies sent and distribute new PETs shipped. The board has allocated some budgeted funds for this field work.
* Mission trip update:
“February 3, 2016 9:26 am – The team (70 persons) arrived late Monday night and we are now in full swing! We already have forty surgeries scheduled for the next four days and plan on handing out 160 Personal Energy Transportation carts to people with disabled legs….
The governor of the region greeted the team this morning and thanked us for our service….” (see attached picture of team meeting before projects started)
“February 6, 2016 – Our construction team is right on schedule! They have installed the roof on the orphanage and will begin installing the roof on one of the community centers. The construction team split up so that some of them could help build more PET (Personal Energy Transportation) carts for disabled Ivorians……”
“February 10, 2016 – …… Gary Moreau (standing in white shirt in picture below) with the PET cart said he is excited about the long term relationship with 1040i within the Doropo region. Through 1040i, PET was able to give the gift of mobility to 82 disabled persons within 8 days. In particular, there was a 70 year old brother who brought his 63 year old sister to get new PET carts!”
President Mike Cousineau said he is proud that 70 North Americans and 40 Ivorians blended together to achieve one common goal; making the impossible, possible!”
PET Executive Director works in Ivory Coast to strengthen relationship and distribute PETs.
* PET as a whole family has been trying to get more involved in the overall PET production for durability and recipient well-being, follow up evaluations, and repair/maintenance to keep older PETs rolling. One way PET MO-Columbia is trying to do this is through this new partnership. We anticipate sending a few overseas shipping containers a year to this country alone. We will continue to build and ship PETs to our other reliable and caring partners as well. If you would like to send a PET to Côte d’Ivoire ($300) or send extra $$s for overseas shipping, please go to our website and click the donate button or send a check to the shop.
Thank you for your support in making this report & distribution possible!