By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Casey Neill
DOVETON College students’ handiwork has made a profound difference for two landmine victims.
The students, teamed with Dandenong South East Rotary Club, to fund-raise and then assemble two prosthetic hands in the college’s workshop on 18 October.
Rotarian Don Cantwell said Rotary clubs in the area had now provided 40 hands in the Building Hands for Landmine Victims program, thanks to sponsorship from businesses and community groups.
“There are estimated to be 384,000 people who have lost one or both hands to landmines, and these are mostly children,” he said.
“There are 120 million landmines still set in the world, mostly in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and they are being cleared at a rate of only 100,000 per year.
“At this rate, it will take 1200 years to clear all the mines!
“If you lose your hands you lose your independence.
“By fitting these hands, although not perfect, we restore some independence and hope.”
The hands are supplied in kits of 10 priced at $4000, and it takes two people two hours to put them together.
Each hand is sent to its recipient with the name of the people who assembled it and the sponsor.
“We are now getting emails from some of the victims who have some of our hands fitted, telling us what a difference it will make to their lives,” Mr Cantwell said.
Doveton College teacher David Aird said students had organised two free-dress days to raise funds, which was boosted by a donation from Rotary.
The project was part of an extensive student leadership program, he said.
Rotary members also volunteer in Doveton College classrooms, including a sewing program and the college’s breakfast club for 80 students.
