Imagine scrubbing clothes by hand for 20 grueling hours a week— a reality for five billion people worldwide, mostly women and girls in remote or water-scarce spots. Enter the Divya: a genius, off-grid flat-pack washing machine dreamed up by ex-Dyson whiz Navjot Sawhney and his UK social enterprise, The Washing Machine Project (TWMP). It's no ordinary gadget—picture a sturdy metal drum duo that soaks, swishes, and spins a 5kg load in just 30 minutes with minimal elbow grease (a quick handle crank or two after the initial dip).

What makes it a game-changer? It slashes water use by half, eases physical strain, and is easy to repair—no fancy tools needed. Born from real-user vibes in places like Uganda's Lake Victoria islands, it's already lightened loads for nearly 50,000 folks across 13 countries, from Ghana to Iraq. As TWMP's R&D lead Laura Tuck puts it: “We listened to the people we were designing for... That research changed everything.” Sawhney adds: “It transforms an exhausting task into something simple and time-saving.”

The ripple effect? Freed-up hours for education, work, or play, turbocharging gender equality and hygiene. With NGO partnerships, UN backing, and Indian production hubs launching in 2026, TWMP eyes a million lives transformed by 2030. Talk about a wash that's truly clean— for people and the planet!

Do you think projects like these can gain enough traction to transform lives on a global scale? Let us hear your thoughts below. 👇🏽

Link to article: https://www.positive.news/society/flat-pack-washing-machine-spins-a-fairer-future/