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Victoria Hand Project inspires teen to improve 15 more lives in Ukraine

Hand project provides prosthetic arms to amputees in need worldwide
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Soie Liao-Briere, who turns 17 on Dec. 30, is trained in assembly to help change lives through the Victoria Hand Project. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

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.

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.

“It’s something new. I had not much experience with engineering it was neat to see how everything works,” Liao-Briere told the Oak Bay News. “It’s also something you wouldn’t necessarily think about. I know it makes a big impact on individuals and their communities.”

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.

“Not everyone has that,” she said.

Making prosthetics accessible is a core tenet for the Victoria Hand Project.

READ ALSO: UVic project rebuilds lives one hand at a time

They partner with organizations in developing and low-income countries – 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.

“It’s heartwarming to see what you can do and have an impact, even if what you do doesn’t seem very substantial,” she said.

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CEO Michael Peirone offers advice to teen Soie Liao-Briere, as she assembles an appendage in the Victoria Hand Project lab at UVic. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

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 – including assembly, testing and packing – based on skill set, timing and need.

So far they’ve provided more than 300 arms.

READ ALSO: Oak Bay leaders pitch campaign to keep Ukraine schools running

“That’s 300 lives that have been positively changed,” 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.

“Victoria Hand Project started small and they’ve accomplished a lot. It’s very inspiring,” 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. “Hopefully people will see it and be inspired by Soie’s work.”

Find the fundraiser at gofundme.com/f/supporting-the-hands-for-ukraine-campaign.

Visit victoriahandproject.com to learn more about the project, how to get involved or other ways to donate.

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Christine van Reeuwyk

About the Author: Christine van Reeuwyk

Longtime journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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