A teen looks to give a hand up to a UVic-based project that changes lives worldwide one limb at a time.
When Soie Liao-Briere, who turns 17 on Dec. 30, started her search for community service opportunities last year she had STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in mind. When a friend suggested the Victoria Hand Project which provides prosthetic arms to amputees in need worldwide, she was immediately intrigued.
Meet the 'hinge-door' limb socket B次元官网网址� a compassionate solution for those with uncommon limb shapes.
B次元官网网址� Victoria Hand Project (@vichandproject)
Your support has been life-changing, helping us the gap to prosthetic accessibility, utilizing to help those who otherwise may be left behind.
While she admits to being a little lost at first, Liao-Briere got the hang of work at the UVic lab quickly and learned, among other tasks, to build hands.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something new. I had not much experience with engineering it was neat to see how everything works,B次元官网网址� Liao-Briere told the Oak Bay B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 also something you wouldnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily think about. I know it makes a big impact on individuals and their communities.B次元官网网址�
Also a volunteer at Royal Jubilee Hospital, she remembers an interaction with a patient dealing with a significant hand injury. The pair got into a conversation about the wonders of modern medicine and could be repaired.
B次元官网网址淣ot everyone has that,B次元官网网址� she said.
Making prosthetics accessible is a core tenet for the Victoria Hand Project.
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They partner with organizations in developing and low-income countries B次元官网网址� changing lives by providing tools (such as 3D printers) and training to produce custom prosthetic arms. This helps create jobs in cutting-edge technologies in underprivileged communities and improves access to prosthetic care for amputees. The prosthetics are provided free of charge to people with the greatest need.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 heartwarming to see what you can do and have an impact, even if what you do doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem very substantial,B次元官网网址� she said.
The project employs four full-time staff and two co-op students. With such a large global reach they really do rely on volunteers, said CEO Michael Peirone. That usually includes a roster of 30 to 40 volunteers from diverse fields doing a variety of tasks B次元官网网址� including assembly, testing and packing B次元官网网址� based on skill set, timing and need.
So far theyB次元官网网址檝e provided more than 300 arms.
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B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 300 lives that have been positively changed,B次元官网网址� Peirone said, adding 15 more can change with Liao-Briere recent initiative.
The hard-working staff and volunteers, as well as the initiative itself, spurred her to start an online fundraising campaign.
B次元官网网址淰ictoria Hand Project started small and theyB次元官网网址檝e accomplished a lot. ItB次元官网网址檚 very inspiring,B次元官网网址� she said.
She aims to raise $4,500 specifically for the Hands for Ukraine initiative to support clinics in the war-torn country.
That would change 15 lives, Peirone said. B次元官网网址淗opefully people will see it and be inspired by SoieB次元官网网址檚 work.B次元官网网址�
Find the fundraiser at .
Visit to learn more about the project, how to get involved or other ways to donate.
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