Roly Mamani, who grew up in rural Bolivia, now uses his engineering skills and 3D printing knowledge to build prosthetic limbs for Indigenous Bolivians.
His passion for building toys, which he funded himself through selling robotic toys, led him to realize his purpose of improving people’s quality of life by creating prosthetic limbs.
Mamani’s upbringing in Achocalla, a rural community, influenced his resourcefulness and love for building his own toys as a child.
Before going to public university, Mamani worked in an automobile workshop which exposed him to real machines for the first time.
Ten years ago, he opened his own workshop in Achocalla and began building robotic toys and educational aids.
After hearing about a man without hands, Mamani decided to create prosthetic limbs using his 3D printers, focusing on improving the lives of others through his engineering skills.
Mamani has made more than 400 prosthetic limbs since 2018 and has donated half of them to those in need.
In Bolivia, a 3D-printed prosthesis can cost up to US$1,500, making it unaffordable for many but Mamani chooses the recipients based on the needs of those who are most vulnerable.
One of the beneficiaries, Pablo Matha, lost his vision and right hand in a mining accident and now feels like an ordinary person after receiving a prosthetic limb.
Marco Antonio Nina, another recipient, now feels blessed to be able to hold a microphone and sing, something he was unable to do before receiving a prosthetic arm.
Mamani plans to use the recognition he’s received to set up a rehabilitation center and aims to generate his own technology to improve the lives of others.
