Chulalongkorn University and UNIQLO Launch Happy Gloves Project to Support Children with Cerebral Palsy 

Chulalongkorn University, through its Demonstration School, together with UNIQLO (Thailand), organized a press conference for the Happy Gloves Project: “Sharing Happiness Gloves for Children, for the Planet” and a ceremony to hand over gloves for children with cerebral palsy on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the 4th-floor conference room of the Administrative and Operations Building, Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School (Elementary Section). Presiding over the event were Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, and Mr. Yoshitake Wakakuwa, CEO of UNIQLO (Thailand). The project’s background was presented by Ms. Sriya Netnoi, Director of the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School (Elementary Section) and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University. 

Happy Gloves “Sharing Happiness Gloves for Children” is an innovation project invented and developed by students from the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School. It has been designed as gloves for children with cerebral palsy to help reduce injuries from hand spasticity, prevent finger and wrist fractures or deformities, and also serve as “toys” to bring happiness and promote development and learning for children with cerebral palsy. A total of 1,000 gloves will be delivered to Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for distribution to children with cerebral palsy. 

Children with cerebral palsy, or CP, suffer from a nervous system disorder that occurs in infants and young children, affecting the development of movement in various parts of the body. They often experience spasticity, which can cause pain and joint deformities. These children require continuous medical care and physical therapy to develop fine motor skills and self-care abilities. Currently, there is a rate of about 0.61 per 1,000 live births with cerebral palsy, or around 6,600–12,600 children (based on the average rate of 0.61). However, the equipment to support these children is still very limited, and more assistance is needed in all aspects. 

Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, stated: 

“I would like to express my appreciation for this project, which is a collaboration among the education sector, business sector, and society to push forward this innovation, creating impact and inspiration. Delivering 1,000 sets of gloves designed with universal design principles and environmental awareness to Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security will serve as a model of innovation for sustainability. I congratulate the students of the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School for their success with this project, which is not just Happy Gloves but true happiness extended to the community. This comes from the power of young people who pass on joy, dedication, and inspiration, transforming imagination into valuable and tangible inventions through knowledge, processes, design thinking, and deep empathy for others.” 

“The role of Chulalongkorn University is to nurture awareness and cultivate and develop wisdom to be shared with society. The Happy Gloves project is not only about developing happiness-sharing gloves but also gloves that deliver happiness for children and for the planet. It is an excellent example of teaching and learning in this decade and a model for building a caring and sharing society,” said Professor Dr. Wilert. 

Mr. Yoshitake Wakakuwa, CEO of UNIQLO (Thailand), shared about supporting the Happy Gloves project: 

“UNIQLO continues to fulfill its sustainability mission in Thailand, including its latest collaboration with the Happy Gloves project of the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School. UNIQLO supports this project by providing donated clothing from UNIQLO customers nationwide through the RE. UNIQLO program for people in need. For clothing that cannot be donated, UNIQLO recycles them into new fabric, extending their life and providing the main material for producing Happy Gloves for children with cerebral palsy. We are delivering 1,000 sets of gloves to Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to distribute to children in need. UNIQLO will continue to support Thai society through the LifeWear philosophy and is committed to expanding its sustainability mission through partnerships in the future to build a stronger, more livable Thailand together.” 

The Happy Gloves project, “Sharing Happiness Gloves for Children, for the Planet,” was developed by elementary students from the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School who are now Chulalongkorn University undergraduates: Ms. Nichamon Suphattarakiet, Ms. Airinraya Sotangkur, Mr. Supawit Wannadilok from the Faculty of Engineering, and Mr. Supachip Sahakitrungruang from the Faculty of Veterinary Science. 

Ms. Airinraya Sotangkur, one of the developers of the Happy Gloves project, explained the origin of the initiative:

“The Happy Gloves project was developed by our team of four since we were in grade 5 at the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School (Elementary Section), under the supervision of Mr. Jirasak Jitrojanarak, head of the school’s Innovation Center, to enter a competition for innovative projects to help people with disabilities. We learned about the needs and problems of children with cerebral palsy, which had not yet been addressed. Together, we designed and invented gloves to help reduce spasticity, prevent fingernails from digging into the palms (which causes wounds or skin maceration), and protect against wrist fractures. We then tested the prototype gloves with children with cerebral palsy through the Maenok Disability Learning Center and Chulalongkorn Hospital, collecting data to refine the design to make it suitable for children with cerebral palsy, and we found that they truly helped reduce hand spasticity.” 

“After the children tried the gloves, they were noticeably happier when they had toys in their hands because the therapeutic equipment was designed in the form of toys. It included a wrist splint to alleviate spasticity and a doll in the center to cushion the fingers when they clench, preventing wounds and reducing stiffness. The gloves are free-size, suitable for all ages, and when the child has severe spasticity, an alarm sounds to alert caregivers that the child is having a spasm so they can provide timely care. These gloves also serve as toys that bring happiness and promote emotional, social, and cognitive development for children with cerebral palsy. All four of us are delighted that our innovation can bring happiness to children with cerebral palsy, making them smile again and truly benefiting the patients,” said Ms. Airinraya. 

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