In the United States, most of us take clean clothes for granted. We simply toss dirty laundry into a machine, push a button, and voilà—clean clothes. But for many people in developing countries without reliable access to water and electricity, clean clothes are a luxury, often requiring hours of backbreaking labor to achieve because the washing is done by hand. Thankfully, a ground-breaking initiative is gaining momentum to improve how laundry gets done around the world. But, as you'll learn, it's about so much more than laundry, and that's exactly why Judd & Black is proud to be involved with The Washing Machine Project supported by Whirlpool Foundation.
Did you know that 60% of people worldwide wash their clothes by hand? Many by the simplest means, including water from a lake, stream, or river and simple rocks along the bank that function as a washboard. This strenuous undertaking, which takes an estimated 20 hours per week, falls primarily on women and girls in the household.
A revolutionary manual washing machine is emerging to change this. According to the Whirlpool Foundation website: "Divya, the namesake of the machine, is named after Navjot Sawhney's (founder and CEO of The Washing Machine Project) former neighbor, whom he became close friends with during a work assignment in India engineering cook stoves. He was struck by how much time Divya spent doing backbreaking chores, including handwashing clothes for hours each week. He promised to return to Divya with a manual washing machine and help make her life a little easier."
The Divya washing machine, a simple yet powerful device, is a manual, off-the-grid (no electricity needed!) washer that helps save up to 50% of water and 75% of the time compared to handwashing clothes. The Divya is designed to be easy to use, and it can be operated by people of all ages and abilities. The Divya is both easy to assemble and use, at its core a metal washing drum with a crank-to-turn handle and water drain spout. But it's more than just a machine; it symbolizes hope, empowerment, and progress. Here's why.
Imagine gaining back 14 hours a week you previously spent washing laundry. What can you do with that time? The point is, whatever you want! Empowering people, including many women, gives them time back to pursue other activities such as education or employment opportunities, caregiving, resting, and spending time with family.
The Washing Machine Project, supported by the Whirlpool Foundation, is a non-profit organization based in the U.K. that aims to improve women's and children's lives in developing countries by providing access to time-saving Divya washing machines. In 2024, they plan to scale up the production and distribution of washing machines across numerous countries by partnering with organizations like the Whirlpool Foundation (the philanthropic arm of the Whirlpool Corporation) and other international development and humanitarian organizations.
Judd & Black is proud to be a part of this life-changing initiative. In December 2024, at the Everett Judd & Black Appliance location, we hosted a first-in-the-nation event to demonstrate the impact of the Washing Machine Project. You can get involved by sharing this information with your friends and family to raise awareness and encourage others to add their support. Together, we can make a lasting impact on our global community by ensuring everyone has access to clean clothes and the dignity that comes with it.