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Toy workshop designs change lives - 23rd February 2024

As a youngster in an impoverished, rural part of Bolivia, Roly Mamani taught himself how to construct playthings from plastic and cardboard waste. These days, his toy-making talents are being honed to produce prosthetic limbs.

Roly Mamani: "Not having toys gave me the necessity, the curiosity, to create my own things, and currently, I have surpassed that. We are helping people, animals, and trying to change many things. There are many challenges that we have had to overcome."

Having fine-tuned his engineering skills and mechanical know-how at university, Mamani set up his own workshop specializing in robotic toys and pedagogical aids. Learning about a man in a rural area who had no hands, he undertook to fashion a couple. The achievement kickstarted his new focus, where his engineering prowess is blended with 3D printing capabilities, resulting in prosthetics for numerous disfigured Bolivians.

Although the country has over 36,000 individuals with physical and mobility issues, there's no state provision for prosthetics and costing five times the minimum yearly earnings, a basic 3D printed limb is out of reach for most.

The toymaker and his sibling, physiotherapist Juan Carlos, together single out exactly who to help. They ensure at least 50 percent of the prosthetics are free of charge or at cost, funding the production via the profits garnered from Roly's robotic toys.

For Pablo Matha, his personalised limb's empowered him to earn a living from guitar playing.

Pablo Matha: "I have found it much easier to play the guitar and I have been able to play with the prosthesis. For me, it’s a great gift that Roly and Juan Carlos have given me.

On account of his prosthetic arm, Marco Antonio Nina's able to pursue his dream.

Marco Antonio Nina: "I love to sing, and I have to hold the microphone with this hand. So, sometimes, like now, I have a problem here, and it becomes numb after holding the microphone. Now, with this, I am able to make the movement and leave it there. It's easier for me to grab the microphone and sing."

Since his attainments have been publicly acknowledged, Mamani's now set his sights on founding a rehabilitation centre. Viewed as a hero by many, this humble toymaker is simply indebted to science – his superhero.

Roly Mamani: "For me, science is like a superpower, which allows you to do things that sometimes make you feel very good. It makes you feel a sense of empowerment when trying to come up with a solution. In our case, technology and robotics help us create anything."

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