Young inmates in the southern Chilean city of Valdivia are learning how to use 3D technology to make prostheses for children from poor families.

"The kids have really surprised us with their motivation and commitment to the project," program director Montserrat Arevalo told EFE.

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The project to help poor children in need of prosthetic limbs is being run by the Ciudad del Niño Foundation.

"In the beginning, there were some concerns over how the learning process was going to work, especially the use of specialized software and caring for the machines," Arevalo said.

The young inmates selected for this program have "the support of their families for this new opportunity to improve their lives," Arevalo said.

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The one-year program is being financed by Banco de Chile via the Desafio Levantemos Chile Foundation and is receiving assistance from a private company.

"We are having talks with others who may also be able to take them on as employees, but the priority is to train them so they can be entrepreneurs," Arevalo said.