Navjot Sawhney, a British Indian engineer based in London, has won UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Points of Light Award for his low-cost, energy-efficient manual washing machine as part of an innovative Washing Machine Project targeted at low-income communities around the world.
According to Downing Street, the hand-cranked washing machine already benefits over 1,000 families without access to an electric machine in developing countries or refugee camps, including humanitarian aid centres in Poland for Ukrainian refugees.
It was while volunteering in India with Engineers Without Borders that Sawhney saw the disproportionate burden placed on women in underprivileged communities to carry out handwashing. This inspired him to design a manual, off-grid, fully sustainable washing machine.
“Winning the Points of Light award and getting recognised by the Prime Minister is a phenomenal privilege. ‘The Washing Machine Project’s mission is to alleviate the burden of unpaid labour, mainly on women and children. I’m so proud that giving back the dignity of clean clothes to those who hand wash them is getting the recognition it deserves. Thank you to our team, volunteers, partners and beneficiaries who work tirelessly daily to make our mission a success,” Sawhney said, on receiving the award.
The Points of Light Award recognises volunteers, charity leaders or community champions for their outstanding work in bringing a change in their community.
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Sunak’s letter to Sawhney reads: “You have used your professional skills as an engineer to help thousands of people around the world who don’t have access to electric washing machines.
“Your innovative, hand-cranked washing machines are giving families the dignity of clean clothes, and the time you are saving them is empowering many women who have been held back from education and employment.
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“I know that your machines are also helping Ukrainian families who have been forced to flee their homes and are currently living in humanitarian aid centres. Your ingenuity, compassion and dedication to improving the lives of others is an inspiration to us all.”
Speaking with iGlobal columnist Reena Ranger, Sawhney spoke of how he had named his hand-cranked washing machine Divya –the name of her neighbour in India, whom he watched regularly toiling for hours washing clothes with hand. This prevented her from pursuing employment and caused skin irritations and back pain.
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The University of Bath Engineering graduate and former Dyson employee thus came up with this phenomenal manual technology which reportedly can help save up to 50 per cent of water and 75 per cent of the time compared to handwashing clothes.
*Info: The Washing Machine Project