Q&A
WHAT IS HELP ME3D?
Ayúdame3D is a Spanish organization that promotes the social value of technology through technological-social awareness programs in order to help vulnerable groups around the world. Thanks to this, it creates and delivers 3D printed arms, called trésdesis, free of charge to people with disabilities. Thus reducing the inequality they face, improving their quality of life and providing better opportunities for employability and schooling.
HOW MANY TRÉSDESIS DO YOU DELIVER? DO YOU ALSO DELIVER ARMS IN SPAIN?
We currently deliver about 150 trésdesis a year and send them to about 50 countries around the world. We will be present wherever our help is needed. Of course, in Spain we deliver our help to any person who may need it and we also have different programs (Helping, Superkids...) that at the moment are only developed in the Spanish territory.
HOW DO TRÉSDESIS WORK?
The trésdesis are 3D printed arms with prehensile mobility thanks to the joint each person has (wrist, elbow, shoulder). These models are based on the original models of Enabling The Future, incorporating from NGO HELP ME 3D a new model for people without elbow. The mechanism of all types of trésdesis is similar: with the natural articulation movement of the person, a mechanism of nylon threads is activated that makes the fingers close strongly and when this movement is undoing, some rubbers return the fingers to their initial position. Our trésdesis are manufactured by our 3D printing expert platform with a material called PLA, a plastic from vegetable resources such as corn starch.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A TRÉSIS?
Through the form that appears when you click on "I need a threesome" in our section of the website dedicated to threesomes (https://ayudame3d.org/nuestras-tresdesis/).
CAN THE THREE STEPS BE ADAPTED TO EACH PERSON?
All our trésdesis are adapted through a series of measures that the people who request them send to us. We work to make the devices as comfortable, personalized and adjusted as possible so that each beneficiary can make easy use of them.
DO YOU DO 3D LEGS?
At the moment we do not offer 3D printed legs as we do not have sufficient resources to do so. Our goal is to continue working to improve the lives of more people every day.
DO YOU MAKE ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES TRÉSIS?
We believe in the social value of new technologies and their ability to change lives. With the Covid-19 health crisis, all our work was disrupted, but we decided we couldn't leave it at that. We adapted our business to be able to offer coronavirus protection materials such as face masks to professionals who were fighting on the front lines. During the first months of the pandemic we gave these aids to more than 20,000 people in 400 centres throughout Spain. We also collaborated on the Chemobox project, which designs and manufactures customised boxes that cover chemo bags for children. www.ayudame3d.org/ayudas-3d
HOW CAN I COLLABORATE WITH AYÚDAME3D?
- Sharing in social networks or with your acquaintances the work that Ayúdame3D does. You will help us reach many more people, even people who did not know they could be helped.
- Being a member of Ayúdame3D. From 3 euros a month you can contribute your grain of sand so that we continue sending our help to all parts of the world (https://ayudame3d.org/hazte-socio/).
- Donating sporadically to finance our work or a specific project (https://ayudame3d.org/dona/).
- Buying any of our solidarity products in our web shop (https://ayudame3d.org/productos-solidarios/).
HOW DO YOU FINANCE YOURSELVES?
In addition to what was mentioned in the previous question, we create social-technological awareness programs and use the benefits to help vulnerable groups around the world thanks to new technologies.
We develop these programs both in educational centers and in companies. We have been developing these programs for more than 4 years in order to raise awareness of how easy it is to apply a social value to new technologies. They have been awarded and recognized nationally and internationally and can be requested through our Programssection.
In addition, there are many organizations and companies that have awards or recognition that can encourage us to help many more people. Do you know any?
PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS?
Helping is an educational program of technological-social awareness designed for students from 4th grade of primary school to 4th of ESO in which they create aids for people around them such as 3D printed arms, IV boxes for children in hospitals or face masks against COVID-19. Helping is made up of different modules that provide students with skills not only in design and 3D printing, but also how to use this technology to create a positive impact on the society around them through social, civic and entrepreneurial values.
More info at https://ayudame3d.org/programa-helping and colegios@ayudame3d.org
PROGRAMS WITH COMPANIES?
We develop Corporate Social Responsibility programs, Teambuilding actions, sponsorship programs and social impact conferences in order to create a more ethical and supportive business environment. With these solidarity actions these companies manage to help people all over the world.
More info at https://ayudame3d.org/programa-rsc and marta@ayudame3d.org
I WANT TO COLLABORATE AS A VOLUNTEER.
At the moment the volunteer option we offer is with a 3D printer, within the HELPERS3D program(https://ayudame3d.org/helpers3d). This option is only available for people living in Spain for logistical reasons, but we are working to expand the territory of volunteerism and volunteer collaboration options with Ayúdame3D.
I WANT TO WORK ON HELP ME3D.
You can send your CV to info@ayudame.orgWe will take this into account in future selection processes.
I WANT TO DO AN INTERVIEW/REPORT ON HELP ME3D.
You can write to our communications team for more information or to arrange an interview at comunicacion@ayudame3d.org.