Social Impacts

Our club creates prosthetic hands using 3D printers for individuals with disabilities who cannot afford them due to the high costs of traditional prosthetics.

Participating in this club since 6th grade, my interest originally stemmed from a fascination with 3D printing. However, this work allowed me to realize the profound impact that providing prosthetic hands to financially disadvantaged individuals can have as I slowly learned the hardships disabled-bodied individuals face and the importance of assisting them.

Taking on a leadership role in my freshman year, I took on the role of teaching my fellow members the lessons I learned when I first joined this club. Sharing our mission and guiding them through the process of making prosthetic hands, I closely worked with over 20 students at my school. As the leader, I restructured the club’s workflow to make production more efficient. I developed a 10-week plan and divided our work into three teams: Manufacturing, Research, and Assembly. New members start in the manufacturing team, where they undergo a 1-2 week orientation to learn how to operate the 3D printers and understand the prosthetic parts. The assembly team is further divided into four specialized groups responsible for heating, wire insertion, buffer treatment, and Velcro mounting. Meanwhile, the research team collaborates with external organizations for quality control and explores new donation opportunities. So far, we have donated around 20 prosthetic hands.

Most importantly, this club has taught me how to use my skills to help others. Meeting with these individuals, I can realize the critical need for recognizing these different bodies and creating better systems that allow these individuals to be seen. It has allowed me to empathize with the challenges faced by marginalized groups, and I've realized the value of dedicating time and resources to make a difference.

When I joined the club, I became aware of how many people with disabilities struggle financially to access prosthetic arms. This deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by minorities in society and gave me a sense of solidarity with their struggles. Whether based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic status, anyone can find themselves in a minority group at some point. Yet, our society still lacks adequate support for minorities. This club has taught me that while discrimination persists, there are also people committed to fighting against it.