As they reflect on two years of work in Ukraine, the folks at the Victoria Hand Project hope to expand to the capital and other parts of the war-torn country.
From a small lab at the University of Victoria, the Victoria Hand Project harnesses 3D printing technology to create life-altering prosthetics. The charity strives to empower individuals worldwide, particularly where accessing prosthetics is challenging. By offering affordable and sustainable solutions, they restore independence, hope, and dignity to those who have lost mobility due to limb loss.
They operate through clinics in countries where access is limited, setting up the needed people and equipment.
CEO Michael Peirone remembers 2023, preparing to head overseas.
Despite the active military conflict, they were drawn there to help people.
“Primarily, we obviously saw what was happening in Ukraine, and there were many people reaching out to us,” Peirone said.
Fundraising by mayors Kevin Murdoch of Oak Bay and Dean Murdock of Saanich set them in good stead, travelling to Ukraine with 17 suitcases full of 3D-printers, filaments, computer systems and tools.
First, the team landed in Vinnytsia, and worked with a government hospital, training people for a week, providing initial fitting and then leaving donated printers and computers. The team then did the same in Lviv.
“So far, there have been 140 people who have been fitted with a prosthetic arm in Ukraine," he said. "So much of that is possible due to the generous donors locally.”
In a “great vote of confidence”, the teams see newcomers, who learned via word of mouth and come calling for a “Victoria arm." They also see returning clients for fittings or their next prosthetic, as people need multiple ones over a lifetime.
“A need that we recognized before in other countries where we work, but that really presented itself in Ukraine was prosthetics for people missing their arm above the elbow,” Peirone noted. “I guess those are expensive and complicated to make, so many people just don’t end up receiving one … even if they’re getting support through the government.”
Greater Victoria has consistently shown strong support for Ukraine. While the Victoria Hand Project operates globally, it has raised approximately $360,000 for Ukraine to date, with donations coming from across Canada, and a particularly high number from local residents.
“This is our biggest project so far, and it’s really helped get our name out there in the community,” Peirone said. “There are people who didn’t know about us three years ago and are huge supporters now.”
With setups in Kenya, Rwanda, Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, Uganda, Haiti, Guatemala, Ecuador, Cambodia and North America, they still get requests from across Canada from groups looking to collaborate. That includes those looking to increase production or explore the realm of producing prosthetic legs. Victoria Hand Project is looking toward building in the direction of “more partnerships and collaborations that can really grow across the country, and really make this a staple of prosthetic technology.”
In Ukraine, Kyiv would be the next logical step for the UVic-based non-profit, and there is some interest from that area in setting up a clinic.
“We have seen reports that there are estimates of 50,000 people in need of prosthetics in Ukraine, arm and leg. There’s still such a huge need,” he said.
Learn more at victoriahandproject.com.
