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LEVEL C1

Shadowing the newsreader

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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.

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.

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

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.

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