Bolivian toymaker prints new limbs

When he was growing up, Roly Mamani didn't have any toys so he created his own. Nowadays, he's an expert toymaker who uses his skills to produce false arms and legs – 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."

While at university, Mamani specialized in engineering and electronics. Later, he set up a workshop where he builds robotic toys. On hearing a story of a person without hands, Mamani made a decision to produce a pair. After he was successful, he joined his talents with 3D printing to develop more body parts.

Prosthetic limbs aren't supplied by the Bolivian government, but there are more than 36,000 people in need. A basic 3D printed arm or leg can cost five times the minimum salary.

The toymaker, together with his brother Juan Carlos – a physiotherapist – choose which people to help. They cover a large part of the costs which are required for production, thanks to the sale of the robotic toys.

With a brand new arm, Pablo Matha now earns an income from his 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.

Another musician, Marco Antonio Nina, can now hold his microphone much longer.

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."

As Mamani's work is now widely known, he's planning a new centre where people can learn how to use their false limbs properly.

For this toymaker, science is his superpower.

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." Weniger anzeigen