Uganda
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Method of Washing: Hand washing
Average Time Taken per Wash: 147 minutes
Average Amount of Water Used per Wash: 54 litres
Average Amount of Detergent Used per Wash: 54 grams of powder or half a bar of soap
Most Important Aspect of Washing: Cleanliness of clothes
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Sylvia - Kampala
Sylvia is a single mother with two daughters and one son. She supports her family by selling fish snacks, managing the equivalent of $20 per month. She lives in a two by two metre breeze block house rented from her brother, with the only water source being a nearby underground stream close to the sewage system.
Sylvia feels that the introduction of the Divya Washing Machine is changing her life. She is incredibly proud to have received the machine, gets emotional when talking about it, and shows it off to all her visitors, keeping it in her bedroom when not in use. Despite her economic situation, she lets her neighbours use it for free.
Distributing a machine to Sylvia in May 2024, we returned a few days later to check in. Her entire property was full of clean clothes.
Josephine and Salma - Kampala
Josephine is one of the earliest recipients of the Divya Washing Machine - she devotes her life to helping others by being a foster mum.
During Covid-19, Josephine moved from Kampala city to its suburbs and started a tailoring business from home. She focuses on supporting girls and young women facing challenging situations.
Josephine upskills, mentors and teaches them how to tailor, make yoghurt and snacks to sell door-to-door or to larger shops in the area. Many come to her pregnant or as young mothers whose families can’t support them. One young woman, mentored by Josephine since 2017, now has a qualification in hairdressing, is married, and has a good income.
Brian, our partner in the field, introduced us to Josephine. She supports eight children, making washing clothes a real struggle. She used to be "scared of her washing," collecting water from half a mile away and washing clothes for over 12 hours each week.
Since early 2023, Josephine has had a washing machine, and her fear of washing is now gone. We visited her again in March 2024 to install new upgrades on the machine.
Salma, 19, has been living with her foster mum, Josephine, since 2019 after being separated from her family.
Having completed her ordinary level education, Salma is determined to pursue a higher level of education in Early Childhood Development. She is saving for a one-year vocational course with the goal of becoming a nursery teacher through practical experience and an internship.
To support her education, Salma uses The Divya Washing Machine 2-3 times a week, washing clothes for her neighbours in exchange for a small income. This has not only helped her start saving for her training next year but has also encouraged more neighbours to use her services, creating a growing income stream. With her hard work and determination, she is turning a simple washing machine into an opportunity for a brighter future.
ISU (Inclusion Support Uganda) - Kampala
ISU, or Inclusion Support Uganda, is a community-based organisation supporting mothers and their children living with disabilities. The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, providing a safe space for therapy, counselling, and financial support.
To generate income, the group makes soap, using their savings to invest in materials and sell their products at markets and door-to-door.
Kyifuko Ramla has been attending with her son Elijah for five years. Caring for her disabled son means constant clothes washing, a continuous and stressful task shared by ten other women in the group, each needing to change their children around once an hour.
The group now uses two Divya Washing Machines collectively, saving time and easing the burden of washing clothes for so many people.
They are considering allowing others to use the machines for a fee, freeing up more time for other activities.
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