Change people's lives at home and around the world

Make a Gift

Philanthropies
1450 N. University Ave
Provo, UT 84604
801-356-5300
Email Us

Bringing Wholeness to Victims of Civil War

July 2019

Graham and Larson

Sierra Leone’s civil war left behind more than 27,000 amputees, most of whom cannot afford the expensive sockets that connect prosthetics to their severed limbs. But recent BYU graduates created an adjustable, affordable prosthetic socket to help.

As students, for their capstone project, recent mechanical engineering graduates Colton Graham and Sean Larson were part of a student team that worked with the nonprofit Engage Now Africa to produce a socket to fit prosthetics distributed by the International Red Cross.

Graham says, “There was a lot of back-and-forth as we learned what was needed and figured out a solution.” Ultimately, the students produced a socket for above-the-knee amputations—something that could cost hundreds of dollars in the United States— that costs about $40 and is made from materials that are available in Sierra Leone.

“We are so grateful for the family that decided to donate for our project,” says Larson. “As students, we rely on those donations so that we can have these real-life experiences.”

Related Articles

BYU

A Simple Way to Make a Difference

Don and Ann discovered the Signature Scholarship, which gave them a chance to help a student (or sometimes multiple students) in need and meet that student in person at a once-a-year luncheon. “Not all young people come with equal family resources—some come from broken homes, some from homes where neither parent has been to college, some from homes where a father or mother has lost employment or has medical issues, and even a few where one or both parents have passed away,” Don says.

BYU

Discovering the Culture of Christ

Culture is like a forest, where individuals are likened to the uniqueness of an individual tree,” says business professor Simon Greathead, who has invited his students to discover “culture of Christ” characteristics in general conference addresses.

BYU

OIT employees rallied around a struggling student

When asked why she participates in the Employee Giving Campaign, Elaine Lauritzen answers without hesitation: “It’s the students. They work so hard, and they go out into the world and make a difference.”