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Victoria Hand Project nabs $250,000 prize

The Victoria Hand Project, which makes low-cost prosthetic hands in developing countries, won $250,000 in the Impact Challenge, run by Google.org, Google’s charitable arm. The contest included 10 Canadian non-profits.

The Victoria Hand Project, which makes low-cost prosthetic hands in developing countries, won $250,000 in the Impact Challenge, run by Google.org, Google’s charitable arm.

The contest included 10 Canadian non-profits. The top five finishers earned $750,000 each, with the rest of the groups taking home $250,000 each.

The local entry, based at the University of Victoria, uses 3D printers to create hands in such countries as Nepal, Guatemala and Ecuador, a valued service since just five per cent of the 40 million people around the world who need prostheses can access care.

The prosthetic hands cost about $300 each, while conventional models typically cost between $2,000 and $3,000.