Bilal Ismail began spreading hope when he asked himself one question: How can you take an expensive but important commodity, and make it available to anyone who needs it?

The question may be common, but finding its answer reveals the passion Ismail has for making a difference in people’s lives.

Ismail is a biomedical engineer, and is the co-founder of Bionic Limbs in Cairo, which seeks to improve the lives of those who need prosthetic limbs, at an affordable cost. He works with a group of inspiring people who are also dedicated to manufacturing inexpensive prosthetics that are practical, durable and comfortable. The organisation was opened with workers in mind, who are often exposed to accidents and injuries that result in amputation, and cannot afford to get prosthetic limbs. In such a case, the injury would cause job loss, as well as difficulty finding any other job in the future.

Ismail’s team began by designing a high-tech prosthetic hand using 3D printing technology, which is much more affordable. In order to help as many people as possible, the project is now an ‘open source’ project, whereby users can design and print 3D limbs individually, or with help from the organisation.

Ismail and the Bionic Limbs team hope to deliver prosthetic limbs free of charge to anyone in the world, starting with Africa, where approximately 80% of injuries that result in amputation occur. There is one obstacle to their expansion – funding. The project relies on private funding, which often limits its potential and prospects.

Ismail’s biggest dream is to set up small 3D printing institutions in cities and villages across the word, and to train a few employees to take proper dimensions and use the 3D printer, in order to maximise access to limbs, to those who need them the most.

“We believe in the saying ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’”, says Ismail. With that, the Bionic Limbs team hopes to make an everlasting impact in less fortunate communities who will be able to then pay it forward, and serve others.