News and Activities

This video of from two patients that we financially supported so that they could receive prosthetic arms. They are very very happy now. Juan Ortiz, Nancy Green, Jonny Zients. Thank you to Creotec for being the organization in Bolivia that designed and produced these 3D printed prosthetic devices for these grateful patients. ... See more

Cecilia Moyoviri Moye is the first female indigenous woman Senator in Bolivia's Legislative Assembly, department of Beni. Contrary to popular belief, after the November 2020 elections, women make up 49% of the Legislative Assembly of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and the country is a forerunner on gender parity in the political sphere. Despite the progress, it is still difficult for women to stand their ground in politics, and Cecilia's indigenous background is an added challenge. Yet Cecilia has come a long way, battling struggles and representing the indigenous lands and peoples, often overlooked in mainstream political discussions. As a senator, Cecilia states that she will focus on defending the rights of indigenous women and protecting the territory land she represents, serving as the President of the Committee on Land and Territory, Natural Resources and Environment of the Senate. In Bolivia, violence against women is considered to be one of the greatest barriers to women effectively assessing politics, and UN Women is providing technical and financial asssitance to establishing legal infrastrructure barring violence against women. Quoting indigenous women leader Toribia Lero Quispe, let us also "generate spaces for dialogue allowing us to reflect on and question acts of violence" against not only women, but any marginalised community.
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2021/3/what-leadership-looks-like-cecilia-moyoviri-moye ... See more

Flashback to September 2020, in La Paz, Bolivia, where disabled protestors marched to the vicinities of the Justice Ministry facilities and conducted a sit-in to protest for financial aid from the government resulting from the still ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In total, around 20 people supported by disability organisations demanded for a one-off voucher of 144USD to support the cost of housing rent and medication, vital needs to be fulfilled. The government has already offered one off vouchers of 36USD to the severely handicapped, and other forms of financial aid to pregnant women, disabled people, and families supporting children in elementary and pre-school, but this is unfortunately not enough to sustain many basic needs. Let us be grateful for what we have and give what we can to support these people through BolivianswithoutDisability, even if it simply giving up some time to learn more about the predicament of these people.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/bolivia-disabled-people-demand-protest-for-financial-aid--20200922-0018.html ... See more

"MARCO" is a 23 young man located in La Paz. He is missing his left arm. He was injured at his workplace, where he recycled bottles. His arm had been accidentally sucked into a machine and severed before it could be stopped. In Bolivia, there are very few workplace safety standards nor guards on equipment. The company where he worked paid for the hospitalization and agreed to help him find a job. But, to date, he hasn't received further notice from the company nor any kind of financial support. Before receiving his prosthesis, he explained to us that it would give him more work opportunities. He also wishes to help his wife at home. They had a difficult time with his amputation, especially during COVID, which left them without resources. They need to take care of their two children. He received his prosthesis on January 9, 2021, and he is happy and optimistic about the future. ... See more

Tania is a 7-year-old girl from a small city in Bolivia. She lives with her younger brother and her grandmother. She lost her right arm in a traffic accident in January 2020 while traveling to her village. The bus overturned, and everyone has been injured. Her arm was found meters away. She was the only passenger seriously injured. The accident is still recent, and she has not yet fully assimilated the accident. She wanted her arm back, knowing that she would not be able to use it as she did before. The function of the prosthesis is, above all is psychological. Her family explained to us that she could no longer do anything alone and felt terrible. She was afraid and ashamed. The family struggled to deal with her. They were determined to help her get used to her new arm, to be herself again, to play, to go out with her friends. Our partner, Creo Bolivia, designed and built her prosthetic arm. They also fabricated an almost lifelike cosmetic cover. She and her family have been extremely grateful. They now have started a more significant journey toward recovering self-confidence. She received her prosthesis on September, 21 of 2020 ... See more

"GREAT NEWS! AmazonSmile customers can now support Bolivians Without Disabilities Inc in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.
Download the Amazon Shopping app from your phone's app store, and then open it on your device.
Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. You can search for our charity by name, or by our tax ID number: 47-3203248.
If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Click here for instructions."
For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.mShop.android.shopping ... See more

Like many other countries in the world, Bolivia has instilled a countrywide face-mask requirement to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Indigenous women in Bolivia have used this to their advantage, producing masks made from the wool of llamas and sheep in the Bolivian Andes. Not only has this helped them economically, but also drawn attention to their culture and heritage. With many women retaining skills of embroidery to transform masks into handmade work of art, original designs and unique masks are produced, very popular among local Bolivians. in fact, 17000 masks have been sold in a week, helping shine light on the women's work and their cultures.

https://www.dw.com/en/face-masks-as-opportunity-for-bolivias-indigenous-women/av-53856640 ... See more

"Wheelchairs are in high demand in Bolivia, but generally, only the most basic designs are available. This post is about advancements in wheelchair design that may someday be available in Bolivia.
Today we highlight Andrew Slorance, who has won the Toyota-run global Mobility Unlimited Challenge with his innovative wheelchair design. The technology, aptly named Phoenix 1, is equipped with smart sensors to, among other things, detect if the user is tipping forward or backward, automatically adjusting to prevent falling. As a wheelchair user himself, Mr. Slorance recounts his own struggle beginning over 37 years ago when he had to use a heavy chair. Since then, wheelchairs have become more compact, but the technology has not changed. This winning design is 3D printed with carbon fiber, so it is extremely lightweight and can be easily maneuvered. 3D printing allows the wheelchair to be molded to the user's body, becoming more personalized and comfortable, a great step in wheelchair innovation. The goal is for the product to be on the market within 2 years. "

https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-55315442 ... See more

As Valentine's day nears, let us share our love to communities that are less fortunate than we are. You can do this by participating in the Amazon "Smile" program, simply be selecting Bolivians Without disAbilities as your choice of charity before shopping. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Bolivians without disAbilities, which we will then translate into real world impact.

Whenever you shop, just remember to access your account through Amazon smile, and you can bookmark our Smile page for easy access: smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248. Amazon will keep track of all your eligible purchases and make the appropriate donation to Bolivians Without disAbilities every quarter. How cool is that?

Note that “AmazonSmile” is THE authentic Amazon site (not a third-party site), so you are not divulging any information to outside sources. ... See more

Anything is possible- 21-year-old Chris Nikic from Florida has become the first triathlete with Down Syndrome to finish an Ironman event- swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and running for 26.2 miles in 16 hours 46 minutes. Down Syndrome is a genetic condition causing varying degrees of learning disability and slower physical development. And Chris Nikic is the first person with the condition to attempt, let alone complete, an Ironman event. After his father encourages him to become 1% fitter every day, Chris began training for the event starting from a single push up. Chris has not only set a new sporting record- his victory also represents a step closer to the goal of living a life or normalcy and greater inclusion for many others like him. Chris has his sights set on participating in the 2022 Special Olympics. Chris has challenged perceptions of people with mental disabilities, and become an empowering beacon for others in similar positions.

bbc.com/sport/triathlon/54869998 ... See more

Disabilities are not always visible in Bolivia, yet they are quite common. For many people in Bolivia living with hidden disabilities - conditions that do not show physical signs but are nonetheless painful, exhausting, and isolating - it can be extremely difficult to gain much-needed support, understanding, or sympathy from the people around them. Conditions such as dyslexia, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis are all examples of diseases a person may be suffering from. These diseases may not appear obvious, but the physical and psychological challenges of managing them cannot be more evident. For example, Natasha, who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which affects connective tissues and causes chronic pain, dislocations, and fatigue, is no stranger to being told that she is "not disabled enough" on the basis of her invisible condition. This has led to difficulties when taking public transport and when using disabled toilets, furthering stigmatism, and discrimination against the disabled community. So let us all try to be more understanding and empathetic of these resilient people, and remember that disabilities should not need to be displayed to be believed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-39732505 ... See more

Clubfoot, a common birth defect in Bolivia, and around the world. This condition causes one or both feet to turn inwards and upwards, making walking very difficult. It is a readily treatable condition affecting 100s of children in Bolivia every year and affecting over 2 million children worldwide under the age of 10. Though 175,000 children are born with it every year, fewer than 15% have access to low-cost treatment. Lack of treatment leads to socioeconomic problems when they grow up. When neglected, people with the condition can be severely discriminated against, leading to problems accessing education and employment, potentially leading to poverty. MiracleFeet is an organization working towards providing clubfoot treatment, both by providing the treatment devices, as well as training medical personnel in the techniques to correct the deformity. Until recently, the only method for correcting club foot was surgery that many middle and low-income families could not afford. However, the non-surgical Ponseti method presented a revolution in treating club foot in 2005, much more affordable for such families. The non-invasive treatment involves the use of casts and braces to correct club foot, restoring full mobility in 95% of cases. 203 patients in Bolivia has been reached by their efforts, with more to come. Six-month-old Monserrath is one such child who was helped by a MiracleFeet clinic, she now has a good chance of a normal childhood rid of disability.
https://www.miraclefeet.org/stories/family-travels-twelve-hours-for-clubfoot-treatment-in-bolivia ... See more

Do you want to help spur change? Do you want to make a meaningful contribution? Join our fundraising campaign at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/prosthetic-hands-and-arms-made-with-a-3d-printer/ and support Bolivians Without Disabilities! At Bolivians without Disabilities, we aim to make prostheses more accesible to those who most need it. With your help, we can 3D print prosthetic limbs, with the potential to improve the lives of 20 disabled Bolivians. Your small act of kindness will make a huge impact on the life of another. ... See more

BOLIVIA, 1942
Check out this post taking an interesting look at Bolivia in 1942 put together by the US office of the coordinator of Inter-American affairs. Did you know that La Paz is the highest major city in the world, with an average altitude of about 12,000 feet! Of course, the high altitude does take a toll- the lack of oxygen is a KILLER! Everything feels like going uphill, and just walking one block can leave you huffing and puffing. In fact, the local tour offices bring tanks of oxygen with them on excursions for the tourists. Because of the high altitude, it takes a lot longer boiling an egg in La Paz than it does nearer to sea level. The short clip marvels at the architecture in the city center of La Paz, for example, Plaza Murillo, where the first cry of rebellion against Spanish rule in 1809 originated. It also talks about the indigenous Aymara people. The history of the Aymara stems from long before the Incas as well as Feria de la Alasita, an annual celebration honoring Ekeko, the Aymara god of abundance, which takes place every January.
https://www.facebook.com/pensartebolivia/videos/vb.558786621288646/288337782057467/?type=2&theater ... See more

NEW MATERIALS FOR BETTER PROSTHETIC LIMBS

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new family of polymers exhibiting desirable characteristics such as self-healing, retaining shape memory, and being recyclable. Polymers are molecules made out of long chains of repeated units, much like beads in a chain. There can be crosslinks between such chains of molecules, and increasing the number of crosslinks results in an increase in rigidity of the polymer. Thereby, the new materials range from elastic to rigid, so they are extremely versatile. By making the crosslinks reversible, depending on temperature, the material could "heal" when first exposed to heat and then cooled. The materials have the potential to be 3D printed into complex structures made up of layers with varying levels of stiffness, adding to its scope of applications. The material is expected to have great potential in prosthetics development.

https://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2020/08/versatile-new-material-family-could-build-realistic-prosthetics-futuristic-army-platforms.html ... See more

A small group of electricians from Montana, USA. A remote village in Bolivia. An act of generosity with life-changing consequences. Such is the story of a group of volunteers from the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association (MECA), a not for profit organization bringing electricity to sparsely populated locations in Bolivia. This group of volunteers journeyed to Villa Cotoca, a small Bolivian village that has never known the benefits of reliable electricity. It is in this remote town that there is little financial incentive for the local utility companies to operate. Despite facing a host of unexpected equipment shortages, the U.S. linemen pushed on in the humid jungle terrain of Bolivia, successfully bringing electricity to the village despite many odds. Though the effort may not be broadcast extensively, it has dramatically changed the lives of 30 people and generations to come. All because of the simple MECA philosophy, that "everybody's entitled to power".
https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2020/04/29/montana-electricity-employees-volunteers-bring-power-bolivia-villa-cotoca/3021002001/
Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association ... See more

=== "FREE" cash donations!!! ===
If you participate in the Amazon “Smile” program, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your purchases to a charitable organization of your choice. Bolivians Without disAbilities would like to be your charity. “AmazonSmile” is THE authentic original Amazon site (not a third-party site), so you are not divulging any information to outside sources. The best part is that this will not cost you a dime.
To sign up is easy. Just go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248 and select Bolivians Without disAbilities as your charity of choice. You can search for us by name, or by our Federal non-profit number: 47-3203248. Then proceed with your shopping. That’s it! It’s that simple. You never have to sign up again and you can change at any time.
Whenever you shop, just remember to access your account via the Smile.Amazon.com URL. Amazon will keep track of all your eligible purchases and make the appropriate donation to Bolivians Without disAbilities every quarter. How cool is that? ... See more

Today's post is not about our work in Bolivia, nor Bolivia itself, but rather about another non-profit prosthetic center for low-income Dominicans. We learned about their work years ago and have followed them ever since. "Centro de Protesis & Terapia Fisica" is located in the Dominican Republic. They are doing great work, and we would like to share the story of their founder:

Graviel Nuel Jacobo Director of Operations for Centro de Protesis was born and raised in the Dominican Republic.

At the age of 6 he had an encounter with a train and ended up with only one leg. He struggled to continue his schooling. His parents helped by moving close to school so he could make it on crutches. At the age of 13 he went to work in a mission hospital that was being built to serve people who did not have access to medical facilities.

While working there and on a daily basis he learned and know about the pain and suffering many people were and are experiencing. Eventually he was introduced to people who had knowledge about prosthetics. With the help of many people, he was able to go to the USA for his first leg.

There are many people of all ages in the Dominican and Haity that have lost a limb or have birth defects and they go untreated because there is no facilities, expertise or money.

Graviel has created a Christian non-profit organization to help Amputees as he was helped. This Center is Centro de Protesis & Terapia Fisica (Prosthetic and Physical Therapy Center) to serve people who have lost lower or upper extremities and physical therapy to special needs kids at no cost.

Centro de Protesis has partned with the Portland Rotary Club and through them; they were able to hold the first prosthetic clinic in which they assist lot of patients from all over the country last January.

To keep helping and moving forward as the first Prosthetic Center of the Dominican Republic, Graviel asks for your help – ideas, suggestions, other people who may help, etc. They will need a facility, equipment, medical expertise and of course money along with financial management expertise and volunteers.

You can find out more about this amazing center here, on their website and facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Centrodeprotesis/
https://www.centrodeprotesis.org/ ... See more

Since Bolivia's interim government decided to suspend the academic year until 2021 to mitigate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been concerns regarding an increase in child labor. Such is the case of Yoel Aricona Rivera, aged 14, who has turned to a full-time job as a construction assistant to earn a living income since classes were canceled.
The increase in children out of school turning to work is exacerbated by increased unemployment in low-income families due to the pandemic, increasing pressure on children to help generate income. This is often the only solution for families to be able to afford basic necessities such as food and water.
While middle and upper-class families have stable internet for online classes and can help their children keep up with schoolwork, low-income families can often be struggling to afford even a telephone card. This is not helped by laws that allow children to be working in self-employment from the age of 10 has been legalized since 2014.
In the end, children working in physical jobs can be more prone to catastrophic accidents that alter their lives forever.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkyvz9/coronavirus-is-fuelling-child-labor-in-bolivia-the-priority-is-having-something-to-eat ... See more

At the FUNPROBO prosthetic clinic in La Paz, Ellen Lucchesi from the University of Dayton participated in a program putting her technical skills to good use-making prosthetics for the disabled population in Bolivia.

A nonprofit organization, the FUNPROBO clinic provides not only prosthetics, but also psychological support to patients who have suffered an amputation. The prosthetics are unique in that they are often made from inexpensive materials, thus making them financially accessible to a wider population.

Patients at the FUNPROBO clinic are offered physical and emotional resources to help them face their disability, especially in a society where disabilities are stigmatized. According to Lucchesi, it is not uncommon for people with disabilities to be shunned by the public or abandoned at a hospital because of the social and economic hardships associated. That is why clinics such as FUNPROBO are so important in offering the disabled resources to help them rebuild and regain a sense of purpose in life.

FUNPROBO was created by the same founder as Bolivians Without disabilities.

https://www.archstl.org/making-prosthetics-for-bolivians-part-of-serving-the-dear-neighbor-says-st-josephs-academy-alum-4829 ... See more

This is an interview as part of a series examining the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations. It is with Marcela, a single mother of four from Bolivia. Before quarantine, Marcela made a living selling quinoa juice and water on the street, but that is no longer possible. Due to the strict lockdowns in Bolivia, both Marcela and her children have to stay home. Without internet access, Marcela's children are struggling with virtual learning and homework, no longer able to keep up with school. Unfortunately, she no longer has the financial resources she needs to support herself and her children in terms of their education. It can be easy to forget how disproportionately the most vulnerable populations are being affected by the Covid-19 crisis, so let's take a step back and give a thought to these populations during a time that has made lives for those in poverty more difficult than ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_0WSLRJdM ... See more

Researchers from the Offenburg University in Germany have developed a system for controlling hand prostheses using augmented reality glasses. Hopefully, this will allow easier control of motorized prostheses, allowing the user to regain a wider range of mobility. The new concept developed allows customization of the prostheses to suit the user's needs. At the same time, the team proposes scanning the user's intact limb and 3D printing a mirrored version to personalize the prostheses further, developing exoskeletons that are unique to each user. 3D printing is quickly opening up enticing prospects in the world of prosthetics. Although it is relatively new, 3D printing is quickly making inroads into the lives of amputees around the world.
https://3dprint.com/264292/german-researchers-develop-hand-prosthetics-controlled-augmented-reality-glasses/ ... See more

Persisting Inequality in Access to Education -- In the past two decades, Bolivia has massively increased investment in the education sector, widening access to education for Bolivian citizens, including those with disabilities. In the span of 2002-2018, the enrollment of students with disabilities in Bolivia rose from 4252 to 22,251 of 2018, though this is still far from providing for all disabled children.
Unfortunately, the recent implementation of distance learning is posing serious challenges in maintaining access to quality education, disproportionately affecting disabled schoolchildren. Those with disabilities may no longer receive the academic support they need, and especially for poorer families obtaining technology that virtual learning requires and supporting the child will be especially difficult. Thus, the threat of widening inequality posed by Covid-19 in education must not be ignored.
https://www.vox.com/2020/8/6/21353154/schools-reopening-covid-19-special-education-disabilities

http://theprisma.co.uk/2020/08/03/there-still-isnt-education-for-all-in-bolivia/ ... See more

Some funeral homes have hired more staff to cope with the influx of the dead, and hearses at the main cemetery in the capital of La Paz line up daily to deliver bodies. With little space available, the mayor’s office only allows burials for people from the municipality and charges more than $100 for cremation, a huge sum for most Bolivians. A private cremation service costs twice as much. ... See more

Celebrating the capital city, La Paz Bolivia. Watching this video you will feel like you are almost there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZSjXDcXhg4&feature=youtu.be

Cholitas Make PPE Gear

Bolivian Monica Callisayain designs unique suits for women to help with biosecurity. The cholita women in Bolivia typically wear long traditional skirts and bowler hats when selling felt their identity compromised during the COVID situation. The suits allow them to continue protecting their identity but also feel comfortable and be able to support their husbands and children financially during this time.

https://www.wionews.com/videos/bolivias-cholitas-don-bio-security-gear-as-they-go-out-to-sell-301176 ... See more

About Coronavirus in Bolivia and how it is affecting one family

Some 1.5 million Bolivians make a living selling goods on the street. Due to restrictions aimed at curbing coronavirus infections, their income is shrinking drastically. State aid does not reach everyone and is not sufficient to cover even basic needs. Learn about Rosemary and her husband's struggle to below.

https://www.dw.com/en/covid-19-bolivian-street-vendors-struggle-to-survive/av-53201205 ... See more

Abel's Story
Abel, a 25-year-old worked in agriculture and security in the Yungas region of Bolivia. One sad day he was part of a horrific dynamic explosion. Prior to the explosion, on a happy Saturday after noon, Abel was swimming in a local river with his friends. Upon leaving, they noticed an object on the ground that looked like fireworks. Abel, accepting a dare from his friends to light it, received the impact of the devastating explosion directly. His friends, assuming he passed away due to the blood on his hands, chest, and face left him for dead and ran away in fear. Luckily, that evening, two women passing by noticed him, called the police, and took him to the hospital. To pay the bills, his family had to sell their cows, one of their main sources of income. The event caused Abel to not only have affected vision but to lose both his arms. However, despite the explosion, Abel and his family still have hope about his future with a prosthetic implant. Bolivians With disAbilities, working with CreoBolivia, has been able to provide two prosthetic arms to Abel. ... See more

Sources of Support During at Time of Uncertainty

The World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, has donated $170 Million to Bolivia during Covid-19. The funding will be specifically used to purchase diagnostic and screening equipment and protect healthcare professionals. “To this end, we have made rapid, efficient support available to the country to address the most urgent needs with a view to protecting the most vulnerable population.” they assure.

https://www.miragenews.com/world-bank-provides-us-170-million-to-support-bolivia-s-emergency-response-to-covid-19/ ... See more

Tackling Coronavirus with Creativity in Bolivia

Bolivian police officers were seen walking the streets of the capital, La Paz, to the beat of music, and conversing with shoppers. The force are hoping this overtly visual display could raise awareness of the importance of maintaining hygiene and social distancing measures during the global pandemic.Bolivian Police Colonel Walter Miranda said: "Living through this national health emergency, we have seen how convenient it is to make these little dolls that involve being able to educate citizens with this creativity,"

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/police-encourage-social-distancing-dressing-21799867 ... See more

The Avocado: A New AI-Based Wrist Connector Transforming Low-Income Areas in India

India with more than half a million amputees is in dire need of a low-cost solution to allow laborers to re-enter the workforce. The ‘Avocado’ is a new invention, weighing only 100grams, ‘capable of greatly improving the overall performance of existing artificial prosthetic devices’. Social Hardware, a robotic’s software startup, has used AI-based technology to bridge the “gaping hole in the prosthetic market” particularly for rural communities.

https://www.scidev.net/global/r-d/feature/prosthetics-designers-harness-ai-to-assist-india-s-amputees.html?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=6f22c6a9154e71cf9f39b337d5a775c62b82c0b1-1587593358-0-AQKhzbzaOzLIQd76LSGaRhSEmItsdwa5h3ysWW7xYlb9YZfJfONY8y05Z1c3DY0m37kQGcj6M-8ChY5TscglZxKZ4vF8kSprzHgoa0F2F-KWr6oB3KNe7ljy4OkgzY0Q3Uawvzr-ikkdT2Y63dJEGxytxDy-Vx_qnvToE9XgZjU3FFJBd8n6RD-gIanhUnMh-70iBSAz5QMfuucytCw8oryPGuGtsAIlhelf4XyYeq1OTQRkNrsGQguwJK-eimFUNCLBu8i1C0bCVx3xNTjzeA4LAKQt8VtS3I34RerStnl-uHG4XQGYlXIQKp3UsEIz0SL1oz0cefuQDgwOSJFRwsZMBtfhPhQDC8Ct0mujLE0ZsC0DMtVkO2I02Kgk-IAEsw ... See more

"Bolivian teen who lost both arms in a power line accident receives new hope”

Aldair Mamani lost both of his arms when he was 5 years old. The lack of technology and economic situation prevented him from receiving medical assistance. 9 years later, the Long-Island based Prothotic Laboratory helped implement a new arm prosthetic. Mamani can now open and close his arms with various degrees of extension and flexion. With new hope, Aldair and his family pledge to help others in Bolivia reach the same level of medical care.

http://longisland.news12.com/story/41629064/bolivian-teen-gets-prosthetic-arms-with-help-of-li-doctors-lawyer ... See more

Bolivia’s Upwardly Mobile Society Before the Departure of Evo Morales

Bolivia’s economy was closing the gap with the rest of the continent, growing faster than most neighbors over the past 13 years prior to the departure of Evo Morales, an advocate of socialism. Public investment, the commodities boom and the nationalisation of 33 companies played a huge role in the decline of poverty.

“I used to go out with two pairs of shoes when I went to work, one pair to walk through the mud roads, and another pair to put on once I arrived at work. ” said Levearia Kachi, who works as a maid. “But now we got roads — real roads! — and I could walk out with one pair of clean shoes.”

Read the full article below: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/socialism-doesnt-work-an-emerging-middle-class-of-bolivians-would-beg-to-differ/2019/10/08/3b1cb3ae-e6f6-11e9-b0a6-3d03721b85ef_story.html ... See more

Today we have an update on the patient David that we previously introduced you to.
The prosthetic limb and harness for David were custom designed and made by Roly Mamani and Juan Carlos Mamani in their workshop in El Alto. They built the arm using a 3D Printer, installed a small battery-powered motor, and designed comfortable upper-body harness to hold the limb to the body. The manufacturing process included two test sessions during the month to try and improve the prosthesis.
Roly Ronald Mamani, Juan Carlos Mamani Mamani, Antonio Riveros, Juan Ortiz, Nancy Green, Fundación "Creo" Bolivia ... See more

Black Friday is almost upon us and I wanted to let you know that there is a way a free way to get Amazon to donate to our charity. It is called the Amazon Smile program. Let your shopping help disabled Bolivians.

When you buy almost anything on Amazon Smile, then Amazon will donate a tiny fraction of that product's price to our charity.

This does not change the price of the product and does not impact your prime benefits.

But there are two steps you have to take.
1) You need to tell Amazon that you choose our charity (or whatever is your favorite charity). This only needs to be done once, and you can change your charity selection at any time in the future. Here is our Amazon charity selection link:
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248

2) When you are checking out to pay, you need to be on the Amazon Smile charity page, which is http://smile.amazon.com. Amazon will remember your charity selection. You can do ALL your shopping using the Smile page, but it is only critical to be there at check out time since that is when Amazon determines who to donate to.

If you have any doubts, concerns, or questions, please do ask.

Thanks for listening and I hope you will choose our charity for your Amazon purchases. Happy shopping and happy Black Friday

P.S. The website and Facebook pages for this charity are here:
https://www.BoliviansWithoutDisabilities.org
https://www.facebook.com/bolivianswithoutdisabilities/ ... See more

On September 26th, we received a report from one of our partners in Bolivia - Fundación Creo Bolivia. They informed us that they have provided two prosthetic arms this past summer using funds granted to them by Bolivians Without Disabilities. At that time, we told you about the first patient, Raul.

Today we will tell you the other patient, David. David was traveling to work at 02:30 am this past summer when the bus he was in a horrible accident. Unfortunately, for many reasons, terrible bus accidents are not that uncommon in Bolivia, and many people are often hurt. The bus David was in crashed and flipped on its side. As it skidded down the road, David's body was tossed around like a puppet inside the bus. His arm went through a broken window and was ripped and crushed by the bus. The photo below is the bus that David was riding in.

(Note that we erroneously posted this same photo in relation to the previous patient Raul)

Roly Ronald Mamani , Antonio Riveros, Juan Carlos Mamani Mamani, @fundacioncreobolivia, Nancy Green, Juan Ortiz, Matt Pepski, Roly Ronald Mamani, ... See more

Did you know that when you shop for the holidays at smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248, AmazonSmile donates to Bolivians Without Disabilities Inc?

Raúl is a very positive patient and was perfectly able to adapt to his new prosthesis. He now wants to get ahead by studying law. Raul said that: “I thank the Creo Bolivia Foundation, Roly, Juan Carlos and Bolivians Without Disabilities for this help they are giving me, now I can walk down the street with more confidence and they will not look at me as before, I am very happy for this help.”

Thank you Roly Ronald Mamani, Juan Carlos Mamani Mamani, Antonio Riveros, Juan Ortiz, Nancy Green, and @fundacioncreobolivia

See previous post about this story here: https://www.facebook.com/bolivianswithoutdisabilities/posts/2425524554221573
and here https://www.facebook.com/bolivianswithoutdisabilities/posts/2447300355377326 ... See more

Here is a different side of Bolivia then we usually post about. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/15/766511635/grown-at-high-altitudes-bolivia-s-wines-see-their-reputation-rising

The prosthetic limb and harness that we provided for Raul (that we mentioned in our previous post) were manufactured by Roly Mamani and Juan Carlos Mamani in their workshop. They built the arm using a 3D Printer, installed a small battery-powered motor, and designed an upper-body harness to hold the limb to the body. The manufacturing process included two test sessions during the month to try and improve the prosthesis. Thank you Roly Ronald Mamani, Juan Carlos Mamani Mamanis, Antonio Riverosio and Fundación "Creo" Bolivia
See previous story here: https://www.facebook.com/bolivianswithoutdisabilities/posts/2425524554221573 ... See more

A few days ago we received a report from one of our partners in Bolivia - Creo Bolivia. They informed us that they have provided two prosthetic arms this past summer using funds granted to them by Bolivians Without Disabilities.

The first patient was Raúl. He had an accident at home when he was a young boy which caused a fracture in the palm of his left hand. He had surgery, but due to medical negligence, a very severe infection occurred which made the amputation of the almost complete arm unavoidable. Raúl's family (most of all, the mother) went to the media, authorities to receive help, but nothing could be done to prevent amputation nor hold anyone accountable.

Roly Ronald Mamani Antonio Riveros Juan Carlos Mamani Mamani
Fundación "Creo" Bolivia ... See more

Keaney, a 28-year-old plastics engineer who co-founded Nonspec, a maker of affordable prosthetic limbs for amputees in developing nations. and de Alderete decided to replace the expensive metal that’s traditionally used in pylons with a medical-grade plastic. That cut the price to less than $20 per device — a far cry from the hundreds or even thousands of dollars that prosthetics can cost. They also made the new design easily adjustable, “so kids as they grow can just adjust their prosthetic and not have to go to the doctor to get things fixed, and really just live their lives as they want to,” she says. ... See more

Hi Friends. For those of you who wanted to support our charity via Amazon Smile, but couldn't since you shopped on your phone - well, Amazon has finally fixed this:
AmazonSmile is now available in the Amazon Shopping App to all AmazonSmile customers using supported Android devices.

If you are an AmazonSmile customer, you can now support Bolivians Without Disabilities Inc in the Amazon shopping app on your Android device!
Open the Amazon Shopping App,
View Settings and select AmazonSmile.
Follow the in-App instructions to complete the process.
If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping App, update your App. Click here for instructions.

AmazonSmile is not currently available for iOS users. We will notify AmazonSmile charities when it becomes available.

To see the impact of your marketing, visit the AmazonSmile Metrics Dashboard for Bolivians Without Disabilities Inc. Simply log in at org.amazon.com and click the "View metrics" button.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=1Q101CYR5M3EP&K=301GMHIVYCCYR&M=urn:rtn:msg:20190923180549b552a534d9374ad3b1c2f32e3dd0p0na&R=2UI4CHWTNOLKJ&T=C&U=http%3A%2F%2Forg.amazon.com%2Fsignout&H=CEJXGAUGFOGB4M7WCVPX3DBRA70A ... See more

This is a fun little post about real-life "Cholita Wrestling" in Bolivia. Although the stage in this video is "staged", the activity is very real and popular in Bolivia. Both for the locals and tourist alike.

The wrestlers in this video are revealed to be part of a seven-year-old association that wasn't accepted by society and was the subject of criticism at the start, but is described as a courageous and empowering activity for those involved.

Check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=92&v=wo0cRFYG1us ... See more

Father's day is June 16th this year. Make sure to get your dad something great. If you happen to shop on Amazon then by using Amazon's "Smile" program ( https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248 ) a small portion of your purchase will be donated to Bolivians Without disAbilities. ... See more

Another story about the risks and desperation of working in the silver mines in Bolivia. Not mentioned in this brief are the amputations caused by mining equipment, dynamite, and other dangerous working conditions. We have helped several of these amputees over the years. ... See more

The Bolivia Project hopes to improve sanitation in the community of Parque-Colani by building sustainable latrines in every household. They will travel to Bolivia in the summer to present their designs, teach the community how to build the latrines and start the building process within the community. ... See more

Sadly, a major cause of amputations in Bolivia is traffic accidents. Poor condition of roads, vehicles and bad/aggressive driving styles all contribute.

I know not many people are still ordering print magazines, but if you plan to do so before the end of this month, then consider ordering through Amazon Smile and select Bolivians Without Disabilities as your preferred charity. That way we will receive a 15% donation from Amazon and your purchase price won't change. Thank you.
https://smile.amazon.com/b?node=18541223011&ref_=pe_732550_387201580 ... See more

Amazon just donated again to Bolivians Without Disabilities. If you know anyone who shops on Amazon but doesn't use Amazon Smile yet, then please try to encourage them to use it and choose Bolivians Without Disabilities. It is the same Amazon and the product prices do not change, and Amazon donates from their profits. It is not a lot but it is so painless and it adds up.

They can select from this link:
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248 ... See more

Bolivians Without disAbilities is proud to announce that we have earned a 2018 Silver Seal of Transparency on @GuideStarUSA! Now our community and donors can tangibly see our commitment to financial accountability and transparency. Check us out:https://www.guidestar.org/Profile/9422411 ... See more

Our taxi driver in Bolivia driving us around town. He is an amputee missing both arms and one foot. He drives without the aid of prosthetic arms. He uses just his residual limbs to steer, shift, and even to put the keys into the ignition. He is also a very good driver. We hope to someday provide him with some new prosthetic devices. ... See more

If you are planning to do back-to-school shopping on Amazon then please consider using Amazon's "Smile" program to support disabled Bolivians. The is no extra fee but Amazon donates a tiny portion of there profits to our charity. See here and select Bolivians Without Disabilities as your charity of choice. http://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248 ... See more

*Please, Just two minutes of your time for iPhone users. *
Connect & Care is a non-profit that makes it easier for people to engage with non-profits around the world via an Apple iPhone app. C&C has been supporting Bolivians without disAbilities for more than a year now and they are currently trying to improve their app. Please help us to help them by taking this short survey and potentially win a $20 Amazon gift card! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3BYBSL3 ... See more

Scientists have used a "breakthrough" approach, that combines virtual reality and artificial tactile sensations, to help two amputees feel as though their prosthetic hand belongs to their own body.

Amazing technological advances in prosthesis: "Patients feel when their hand opens and closes, and how hard they squeeze something when they have the prosthesis on. Marasco also says this technology allows amputees to see this prosthesis as part of their body." ... See more

In remote and dangerous areas, 3D printing can be used to bridge the gap between the need for and access to prosthetic limbs.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/3d-printing-trial-launched-to-help-amputees-in-madagascar-togo/ ... See more

Great work being done by our friend "Terapia Fisica Centro de Protesis" in the Dominican Republic. This video helps you understand the story of this clinic.

It is amazing what can be done with a 3D printer these days. And that someone with initially very little knowledge of how to fix a problem can do some research and invent a solution. Inspirational.

Amazing news: Double amputee Xia Boyu of China reached Everest's two weeks ago on his fifth attempt. It was a climb 43 years in the making. The 69-year-old lost both his feet to frostbite when he lent his sleeping bag to a sick team member on his first attempt to scale the mountain in 1975 ... See more

I came across this interesting viewpoint today that I thought I would share:
*I believe an enduring and deep form of happiness arises from imagining a future that is better than the present, and feeling like you have the power to move the world towards it. Hope for the future is not only a good way to be happy, it is the best form of happiness, the most enduring, the most resistant. * ... See more

Here is one more amazing story about 3D printing of prosthetic hands.

#GivingTuesday IS TODAY! If you have been waiting for this day to donate, then wait no longer. Bolivians Without disAbilities uses 97% of all donations to support disabled low income Bolivians. Your donation will help another amputee walk again tomorrow!! bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/donations/now/ ... See more

#CYBERMONDAY IS HERE! Shop till you drop, and consider selecting Bolivians Without disAbilities as your charity of choice when you shop with #Amazon #Smile. Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to #charity. To participate, always shop from Smile.Amazon.com. You can choose BWD here: smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248 All donations will be used to ensure that more low-income Bolivian amputees will walk again. This works on Cyber Monday and EVERYDAY!! ... See more

Here is an interview with the founder answering various questions about the prosthetic center in Bolivia, such as:
00:00 Introduction
00:23 General data about the center
01:33 What urgent problems do you have?
02:53 Where does your funding come from?
05:20 How did you choose Bolivia for this work?
06:45 What are the causes / Frequency of replacements?
09:00 No, really, what are the causes of amputations?
10:25 What prevention measures can you take?
11:50 What support do you need now?
13:19 What continuing education programs do you have?
15:10 Who would you like to thank today?

https://youtu.be/12PN55AxdJM ... See more

THANK YOU BOLIVIANS WITHOUT DISABILITIES. That is what low-income Bolivian amputees said when they received a new prosthetic limb funded by BWD. There is not an official "Thanksgiving" day in Bolivia, but these amputees are so thankful today, and every day, to be able to walk again. Thankful to be able to find employment again. Thankful to be able to support their families again. Thankful to be able to have pride, self-worth and to be able to hold their heads high again. Thankful not to be so dependent on others again. Thankful for no longer considering suicide. And their families and friends are so thankful also. To have their loved ones back again.

BWD has many donors and this Thank You goes to all of them. In no specific order, here are a few: Elizabeth Bress from Sending Out An SOS. Michael Britton founder of Evolution to Wellbeing and You Move Me Project. Volunteers at CMA. Ray Pye from Movibility. The oh-so-many VERY generous friends and family of Matt. Arnie Berlin. Elena Nora Bonacini president of You Able Onlus. Deborah Gill president of Global WayMakers. The Zients brothers who developed Connect & Care. And the many members of various Rotary clubs who were instrumental in facilitating contributions from their clubs: Ray Sanford past-president Irvine Rotary the main driver of the Rotary-International grant, and all special members at the following clubs: Rotary Club of Baltimore, Nimmonsburg Rotary, Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, Hillcrest Rotary, Rotary Club of Laguna Beach, Rotary Club of Huntington Beach, Alpharetta Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Longview, TX. Association of Bolivian Women in Washington DC. Roger Gonzalez and team at Limbs International. ... See more

"THE FIGHT" THIS POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY by The #Guardian newspaper exposes how #disabled #Bolivians, tired of decades of being ignored and neglected by the government, mobilized in an incredible march on the capital to demand their rights. Many bound to #wheelchairs and crutches rolled and stumbled more 200 miles. A brutal and exhausting journey that took more than a month. People with disabilities are among the most discriminated against in Bolivia. The protesters set camp in the streets, a block from the main Plaza where the Government palace is located. For the first time in Bolivia’s history, the police erected 3m high barricades, stationed tanks and bought out hundreds of riot police with truncheons, pepper spray and water cannons to stop the protesters in wheelchairs from entering the plaza. What the protesters wanted was $75 a month to be able to live with some dignity and not have to beg to survive. Please watch this video to better understand why the work of Bolivians Without disAbilities is so critically needed in Bolivia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=733&v=mWX-G2NJeSI
And considering donating so that you can help more disabled low-income Bolivians bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/donations/now/ ... See more

Only 12 days till #GivingTuesday. One of the biggest days of giving every year. Bolivians Without disAbilities is 100% funded by donations without support from the government. Only you can ensure that low-income Bolivian amputees will walk again. You can donate here https://bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/donations/now/. Bolivians Without disAbilities will ensure that 97% of your donation will go directly to #Bolivia to provide more #prosthetic legs. A prosthetic limb is literally life transformational, since it will allow the receive to hold their head high, find employment and contribute to the family and community again. If you like and believe in this message, then please also share with your friends. ... See more

CAUSES OF #AMPUTATIONS IN #BOLIVIA are many and various. Unlike many other countries with high populations of amputees, there have not been any major wars in Bolivia in over a 100 years. But there are many other reasons for amputations in Bolivia, and unfortunately many are preventable and unnecessary. The primary two causes are traffic accidents and #diabetes related. In all cases, poor general medical care and poor surgical procedures often make matters worse - as does the lack of patient financial resources which means they are unable to afford proper care nor extended treatment. You can see all causes so far in 2017 that have been attended by our partner's prosthetic center: https://bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/lives-changed/

You can help more low-income Bolivian amputees to walk again by donating here: https://bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/donations/now ... See more

The latest news about our activities in Bolivia has just been released. Check out all the interesting action from this past month.

♿ 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔 𝘼𝘾𝙏 𝙊𝙁 𝙂𝙄𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙃𝘼𝙎 𝘼 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔. 𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙄𝙎 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙎?
𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝘽𝙒𝘿 𝙒𝙞𝙣 $𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 for charity !! 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱.
What inspires you to give back? Did you give time, #donate money or goods, or share skills to have a meaningful impact? Is there an event that changed the way you think about generosity? The following link is a contest for the best story and the prize is $10,000 for your favorite #charity.

Our founder of Bolivians Without disAbilities has submitted his story of what inspired him to create this non-profit charity for low-income #amputees. Please click to read this story, press "vote" at the top of the page, and share with your family and friends: http://mygivingstory.givingtuesday.org/fbcontests/profiletab/MyGivingStory/2723288
All these steps, and winning, will help more low-income amputees to walk again. Please do vote and share soon. #MyGivingStory ... See more

#BLACKFRIDAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. As you begin to consider your Black Friday purchases, please consider shopping using the Amazon.com "Smile" program. And choose Bolivians Without disAbilities as your charity of choice https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3203248. #Amazon will donate a portion of their profits to help low-income #amputees that are in dire need of #prosthetic legs. Legs which will help them find employment, confidence, and self-respect again. Note that this will not increase your Amazon costs. When you shop, always shop using the URL smile.amazon.com and after choosing our charity Amazon's donated amount will always be automatically calculated and sent to us. No fuss, no mess, and no extra cost. Plus you get the perfect gift sent to your front door. What could be better than that? Note that you can change your charity of choice at any time. ... See more

#𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 Ingrid Thais Quiroz 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙛𝙛 at our partner FUNPROBO in Bolivia. These essential volunteers ensure that costs are kept low, which means that donated funds are best spent making additional #prosthetic legs for more low-income Bolivian #amputees. our partner does all it can do to keep costs low, such as using local materials, tools, and machines. Your #donation to Bolivians Without disAbilities will go further, and have more positive impact on needy people's lives, than many other charities. You can support FUNPROBO with your tax-deductible donation here: https://bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/donations/now/ ... See more

𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝟮𝟲 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙏𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮! Help a low-income Bolivian amputee like Louis to walk again. You can donate here https://bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/donations/now/. Bolivians Without disAbilities will ensure that 97% of your donation will go directly to #Bolivia to provide more #prosthetic legs. A prosthetic limb is literally life transformational since it will allow the #amputee to hold their head high, find employment and contribute to the family and community again. ... See more

Volunteer! Apply now.

Want to donate to Bolivians Without disAbilities at the click of a button? Using the convenience of your iPhone, you can donate and learn about, and donate to, nonprofits such as Bolivians Without disAbilities easily through the Connect & Care app. Connect & Care is free and available on the App Store —
go and take a look and make a difference! Get the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/connect-care-donate-to-non-profits-worldwide/id1249039684?mt=8 and/or visit Connect & care here: http://connectandcare.org ... See more

Thank you for this incredible inspiration, Mr. Jones!! You can be a figure to look up to for all #amputees. Not just your sheer guts and willpower to do this, but also for all the money that you will raise for charities. ... See more

Thank you for this inspiration Godfrey!!! We wish you the best in your new journey!

Thank you Aaron Westbrook!

3D technology for prosthetic continues to advance at an amazing pace. Check this out:

Great work being done by our partner in Bolivia. Thank you to all donors of Bolivians Without disAbiliites for helping to make this critical work possible.

We know we have been really promoting our fundraising campaign for the past two months to help save our prosthetist but we hope you will believe us that it was critical. So today we thought you might like to see some of the statistics that we gather every month regarding where that money goes. On the linked page you will see various statistical information on all the patients that have been helped since the beginning of January. Such as causes of amputations, ages, sex, and if they were above or below the knee amputations. Next month we will have a major update to these numbers. https://bolivianswithoutdisabilities.org/lives-changed/ ... See more

Need help: Does anyone know how to convert JPG to EPS file? We need to convert our BWD charity logo into an EPS file for display at a conference. We have tried a dozen online solutions and they never have good results. Probably because the JPG file is not that great quality to start with. So the logo would have to be redrawn as an original EPS using the JPG as a model. Please contact me ASAP if you can help. Thank you. ... See more

Volunteer! Apply now.