Video Transcript

Toymaker makes false arms and legs - 23rd February 2024 View All

This is the workshop of Roly Mamani. As a child, he made his own toys. Now, Mamani's a toymaker. He makes arms and legs too - '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."

Mamani learned about engineering at university. Then, he opened his workshop. He started making robot toys. One day, he heard about a man without hands. He decided to make the man two hands. It worked! Now, Mamani uses his skills with 3D printing. He makes body parts. He works with his brother, Juan Carlos.

In Bolivia, there are 36,000 people with leg, hand and arm problems. The government doesn't give out prosthetic limbs. They're too expensive. Mamani keeps the price low for people. He pays by selling his robot toys.

Pablo Matha plays the guitar. Now, with his new arm, he can 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.

Now, singer Marco Antonio Nina can hold the microphone.

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 wants to open a centre. It will teach people to use their prosthetics.

People think Mamani's wonderful. But, for him, it's about science.

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."

Print Transcript

Interactive Games

tried

What's the word you hear?

Complete the sentences. Listen and write the missing word. There are up to 10 questions.

Listening
play game
tried

Sentence muddle

Read the sentences. Put them in the same order as the news report. There are 4 sentences.

Reading
play game
tried

Prepositions

Complete the sentences. Select the correct preposition. There are up to 4 questions.

Vocabulary and Grammar
play game
tried

Construct sentences

Make sentences. Select each word in the correct order. There are up to 3 questions.

Writing
play game
tried

What's the phrase you hear?

Complete the sentences. Listen and write the missing phrase. There are up to 5 questions.

Listening
play game
tried

Verbs

Complete the sentences. Select the correct verb. There are 5 questions.

Vocabulary and Grammar
play game
tried

No spaces in text

Read the sentences. Find the spaces between the words. There are up to 5 questions.

Reading
play game
tried

No capital letters

Read the sentences. Find the missing capital letters. There are 5 sentences.

Vocabulary and Grammar
play game
tried

Put the sentence back together

Put the sentence parts in the correct order. Each sentence is in 4 pieces. There are up to 5 questions.

Reading
play game
tried

Comprehension

Answer questions about the news report. Select the correct answer from 4 options. There are 5 questions.

Reading
play game
tried

Spelling jumble

The letters of one word are in the wrong order. Read the sentence. Spell the word correctly. There are up to 10 questions.

Vocabulary and Grammar
play game
tried

Missing vowels

Complete the sentences. Select the correct vowel for each space. There are up to 5 sentences.

Vocabulary and Grammar
play game
tried

Missing words

Complete the sentences. Select the correct word. There are up to 5 questions.

Writing
play game
tried

Adjectives

Read the sentence. Select the missing word. Check your answer.

Vocabulary
play game
tried

Prepositions

Complete the sentences. Select the correct preposition. There are up to 5 questions.

Vocabulary
play game
tried

Nouns

Complete the sentences. Select the correct noun. There are up to 5 questions.

Vocabulary
play game
tried

Verbs

Complete the sentences. Select the correct verb. There are up to 5 questions.

Vocabulary
play game
tried

Linking ideas

Complete the sentences. Select the correct linking word. There are up to 5 questions.

Vocabulary
play game

Study Tools