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Toymaker makes false arms and legs - 23rd February 2024

Roly Mamani has always loved making toys. As a child, he had none. These days, he's a toymaker. He also creates prosthetic arms and legs for people.

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."

At university, Mamani developed his engineering skills. He then opened a workshop which produces robotic toys. When he learned about a man with no hands, he wanted to help him. He was successful! Mamani then began to mix his skills with 3D printing to make prosthetic limbs.

There are over 36,000 people with limb problems in Bolivia. Prosthetic arms or legs aren't provided by the government. Even a simple 3D prosthetic limb is five times the lowest salary.

Roly works with his brother Juan Carlos, who's a physiotherapist. They use the sale of the robotic toys to help pay for the prosthetic limbs.

Guitarist Pablo Matha is very grateful. His new arm allows him to earn money.

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.

Marco Antonio Nina, a singer, now holds a microphone comfortably.

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."

Mamani's hoping to set up a centre for people with prosthetic limbs. He's seen as a hero. But for Mamani, it's science which is the 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."