The Illinois State Chapter of Sister Cities International is involved with several projects including cultural, student, sports and professional exchanges; trade missions; and assistance in building, reconstruction and vocational training. Read below to find out details concerning some of the local projects which we sponsor.

Wheelchairs for Peace

In 2002, Sister Cities International and the Wheelchair Foundation embarked on a five-year initiative to distribute wheelchairs to sister city communities throughout the world. The Wheelchair Foundation has committed a total of $4.5 million in matching funds to be combined with funds raised by sister city chapters to deliver wheelchairs to children and adults living with disabilities over the five-year initiative.

Get your community involved and send a container of wheelchairs to your sister city. A container of 240 wheelchairs can be funded by raising $18,000. This amount is fully matched by the Wheelchair Foundation. (Whereas normally, a container of 240 wheelchairs actually costs $36,000 to manufacture and deliver, or $150 per wheelchair.) While this is a significant fundraising goal, don't let the amount intimidate you! Numerous sister city organizations have been successful in finding individual donors and community partners to make this worthwhile project happen.

OR, contact us, if you wish to make an individual donation. Over 100 million people around the world are in need of wheelchairs and go without either because they cannot afford or do not have access to one. A donation of only $75 can drastically change someone's life!