Community Care Vehicle (branded in Arabic as “Rescue on Wheels”) is a project designed and implemented by CLUSTER, in collaboration with AP+E studio and Studio Rene Boer in the Netherlands, and supported by the Creative Industries Fund. The tricycle-based vehicle is locally produced, which includes a set of basic equipment to treat and transport patients not in critical conditions as well as wheelchair users. A beta version of the vehicle capable of reaching narrow streets will be operated in a trial period by local organizations in Ard al-Liwa in coordination with official authorities. At the end of this period, feedback will be incorporated and necessary measures taken to approve the experiment and potentially circulate it in other areas.

The design process was carried out through familiarization with international standards and local codes, in addition to reviewing similar models in other countries, particularly those in the Global South. Through grounded research and community meetings in Ard al-Liwa, the design considers local practices and innovative solutions, as well as the materials and manufacturing capacities in Egypt, taking the affordability of production into account.

The Community Care Vehicle is designed to also function as a transportation vehicle for wheelchair users, including a foldable ramp for easy accessibility. Its internal layout is thus based on foldable units and straps to accommodate for navigation and multiple usage of the limited space, either a stretcher or wheelchair. A well-lit compartment with basic mechanical ventilation provides a reasonably compact accommodation for the patient, a companion and a paramedic, while an extended upper storage unit is used to place basic non-electrical medical equipment. The design aesthetic aims at converting the tricycle-based truck into a dignified rescue vehicle offering a unique branding and visual identity.