How The Washing Machine Project And Whirlpool Foundation Help Women Gain Independence
Navjot Sawhney, founder of The Washing Machine Project
For millions around the world, washing clothes is a physically demanding and time-consuming task. Navjot Sawhney, founder of The Washing Machine Project, is dedicated to changing that. His incredible organization designs, manufactures, and distributes manual washing machines for people living in remote, low-income, and displaced communities worldwide.
"The ability to wash clothes, using an electric machine or a launderette, is something many of us take for granted," Sawhney explained. "Yet for 60% of the global population, handwashing is a physically draining task that costs individuals, predominantly women and girls, up to 20 hours of their week. It affects people’s time, health, and ability to pursue an education, work, or even rest."
The idea for the project was born when Sawhney spent time in rural South India. He saw firsthand the challenges that people—especially women like his neighbor, Divya—faced without access to an electric washing machine or an affordable water supply. Moved by her struggle, he made a promise to help. Back in the UK, he developed the first prototype of a hand-powered, manual washing machine designed to save time, water, and effort. He named it ‘Divya’ in her honor.
The Washing Machine Project has since continued to refine its designs, recently launching the world’s first flat-packable washing machine, which can be assembled with just two tools. Last year, in partnership with the Whirlpool Foundation, the team returned to India to finally deliver the machine to Divya—fulfilling a long-standing promise in an emotional moment.
The Washing Machine Project is on the mission is to alleviate the burden of handwashing clothes. | PRASANNA VENKETESH
Impacting Lives, One Machine at a Time
The Washing Machine Project has now distributed its machines in India, Iraq, Lebanon, the United States, Mexico, Kenya, Uganda, and the Republic of Congo, reaching over 32,000 people. With support from the Whirlpool Foundation, the initiative aims to impact an additional 150,000 lives in the coming years.
Beyond just saving time and effort, the machines are also helping people gain financial independence. "Selma, a teenager living with her foster mum Josie near Kampala, Uganda, now uses the machine not just for her household laundry, but to earn an income by washing her community’s clothes—and she’s saving this money to pay for her education," Sawhney shared. "In India, Anjali, who owns a tea shop, said that her husband has started helping with the laundry—for the first time ever!"
These personal stories reflect the profound change made possible through the project. "This is only the beginning, and it’s up to us to go and find millions more individuals like Selma and Anjali," Sawhney affirmed.
A Perfect Partnership: Whirlpool Foundation and The Washing Machine Project
For 60% of the global population, handwashing is a physically draining task that costs individuals, predominantly women and girls, up to 20 hours of their week. | MANYALE-NZANOUA
The Whirlpool Foundation was independently developing a manual washing machine designed by its women engineers, who wanted to create a product that could help other women. The engineers recognized that 60% of the world still washes clothes by hand, a task that disproportionately affects women and girls. Their machine aimed to save time, water, and soap—but they faced a key challenge: distribution.
They had a strong product but lacked the networks to get it to the communities that needed it most—those living without stable electricity and water. Just as they were reconsidering the project’s viability, they discovered The Washing Machine Project, which specialized in reaching these exact communities.
The partnership quickly proved to be a perfect fit. Whirlpool’s engineers helped refine the product for quality, safety, and packaging, while The Washing Machine Project had the expertise to get the machines into the hands of those who needed them most. Whirlpool also established an assembly line where employees could take part in building the machines, an initiative that has been met with strong enthusiasm from within the company.
A Bold Vision for the Future
Whirlpool’s vision is to be the leading kitchen and laundry company, constantly striving to improve life at home. This includes addressing the reality that 60% of the world’s population still washes clothes by hand—a challenge Whirlpool believes should no longer exist. With decades of expertise in laundry solutions, the company sees this partnership as an opportunity to extend its impact even further.
The company’s founders pioneered the electric wringer washer in the early 1900s, creating new opportunities for women by dramatically reducing the time spent on household chores. Now, with this partnership, Whirlpool Foundation hopes to make a similar impact by freeing up time for women and girls who still spend hours each week washing clothes manually—allowing them to pursue education, work, or simply rest.
Expanding Partnerships for Greater Impact
With a mission-driven approach and strong partnerships, The Washing Machine Project is poised to transform lives at an even greater scale.
To scale its mission, The Washing Machine Project is seeking partnerships with brands that share its commitment to affordable, water- and energy-efficient laundry solutions. Targeted collaborations include:
Unilever (Surf Excel, Rin, Omo, Sunlight, Surf) – A strong global presence with sustainability initiatives that align with the project’s goals.
Procter & Gamble (Ace) – A leader in household products, with the reach to support expansion into underserved communities.
Fábrica de Jabón La Corona (Klin, Roma, Foca, 1-2-3, Zote, Carisma) – Known for affordable products in Latin America, aligning with the project’s impact in Mexico and beyond.
With a mission-driven approach and strong partnerships, The Washing Machine Project is poised to transform lives at an even greater scale.
"This is only the beginning, and it’s up to us to go and find millions more individuals like Selma and Anjali," Sawhney noted.
