Community Building Through Teamwork: How Helping Hands DIY Kits Strengthen Teams and Communities

Team-building activities often focus on exercises like icebreakers, problem-solving challenges, or fun competitions. While these can be enjoyable, Odyssey Teams has reimagined team building by combining collaboration with philanthropy through their Helping Hands program.

The Kansas Department of Corrections recently experienced a two-day retreat using the Build-a-Hand® DIY kit, a version of Odyssey Teams’ Helping Hands program that allows participants to construct prosthetic hands for amputees worldwide. This activity demonstrates that effective team building can go hand in hand with making a meaningful difference in the world.

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From Live Programs to DIY Kits

Odyssey Teams has spent over four years delivering live Helping Hands programs around the world, earning widespread praise for both their impact and engagement. Recognizing the need for broader accessibility, Odyssey developed DIY Build-a-Hand® kits.

These kits are designed for companies, small organizations, or teams that may not have the resources for a full live program. They include all the materials needed to construct LN-4 prosthetic hands, which are later donated to individuals in developing countries.

By providing hands-on materials, step-by-step instructions, and team-focused challenges, the DIY kits allow participants to experience meaningful collaboration while contributing to global communities in need.

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Kansas Department of Corrections: Teamwork in Action

During their retreat, members of the Kansas Department of Corrections were tasked with assembling prosthetic hands using the DIY kit. To heighten the challenge and encourage teamwork, participants were asked to place koozies on their dominant hands while working with their other hand to assemble the prosthetics.

Briana, Legislative Liaison for the Department, observed the participants’ focus and determination. She noted how team members communicated keenly, relied on one another, and built a sense of community through the exercise.

“They had a great time doing it and they had a sense that they are contributing to a greater cause,” Briana said.

Adam, Communications Director, highlighted how the program boosted camaraderie and reinforced the value of relying on colleagues.

“Nothing else mattered at that moment, just you and your partner working together to achieve a common goal,” Adam said. “Teams came together and completed a task that is greater than us all.”

The activity reinforced critical teamwork skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, all while creating tangible benefits for communities in need.

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How Helping Hands Builds Community

The Helping Hands program—both live and DIY—offers more than a fun team-building exercise. Its impact spans multiple levels:

1. Internal Team Impact

Participants experience firsthand the value of clear communication, trust, and collaboration. The challenge of assembling prosthetic hands encourages creative problem-solving and shared responsibility. It’s an exercise that mirrors real workplace dynamics, helping teams improve interpersonal skills while achieving a meaningful outcome.

2. External Community Impact

Each completed prosthetic hand is donated to amputees in developing countries, providing mobility, independence, and dignity. For recipients, the hands are transformative, allowing them to write, work, and participate more fully in their daily lives. By directly linking team efforts to tangible social impact, participants understand that their collaboration matters beyond the workplace.

3. Emotional Engagement

Helping Hands fosters empathy and emotional connection, both among team members and between participants and the beneficiaries of their work. Seeing the real-world difference that their efforts make strengthens team morale and cultivates a sense of pride, purpose, and fulfillment.

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Why DIY Kits Matter

While live Helping Hands sessions are highly impactful, the DIY kit extends accessibility. Small organizations, remote teams, or companies with limited travel budgets can now engage in philanthropic team building without compromising quality or impact.

The DIY kits also offer flexibility: teams can complete the program at their own pace, adapt it to different team sizes, and still participate in a shared, meaningful experience. By providing hands-on, purposeful engagement, the kits ensure that even smaller teams can make a global difference.

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Odyssey Teams: Improving Teams and Communities Simultaneously

Odyssey Teams’ mission is clear: to create philanthropic team-building activities that improve workplace culture while benefitting communities worldwide. Programs like Helping Hands demonstrate that meaningful work, shared experiences, and real-world impact can coexist, transforming both teams and recipients.

By participating in the Helping Hands program, organizations help employees:

• Build collaboration and communication skills

• Strengthen trust and team cohesion

• Experience a shared sense of accomplishment

• Understand their work can positively impact the world

At the same time, recipients of the prosthetic hands gain mobility, independence, and opportunity, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and community improvement.

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Get Involved With Helping Hands

Whether your team is a large corporate group, a small organization, or a department looking to foster meaningful engagement, Helping Hands offers a powerful way to build community both internally and externally.

You can explore both live programs and DIY kits to find the best fit for your team’s needs. Every assembled prosthetic hand makes a difference, and every shared experience strengthens the bonds that make teams more effective and resilient.

📩 Email: learn@odysseyteams.com

📞 Phone: 800-342-1650

By participating in Helping Hands, your team can improve collaboration, strengthen relationships, and positively impact communities worldwide—all in one meaningful experience.