This follows a successful three-year global charity partnership aimed at reducing the burden of washing clothes for thousands of remote, displaced, and low-income families and communities.
Approximately 60% of the world’s population washes clothes by hand, a time-consuming and challenging task that significantly impacts low-income and displaced people worldwide. The Divya Washing Machine, the world’s first flat-pack manual washing machine, can be assembled and repaired with standard tools. Constructed with commercial-grade components and stainless steel provided by RS Group, it offers a practical solution to this problem.
Since the partnership began in 2021, RS Group has supported TWMP by providing volunteers and physical components to build these off-grid washing machines. This collaboration has reduced the time required for handwashing by 75% and water usage by 50% in supported communities, advancing both organisations' goal of promoting sustainability.
Over the past three years, RS Group’s commitment to TWMP's mission has been demonstrated through:
- The support of more than 650 employee volunteers. Volunteers from around the world have contributed their time, skills, and expertise to building washing machines and offering invaluable supply chain and industry advice to TWMP
- Over £730,000 in donations. RS Group employees and suppliers have raised funds through various activities, such as bake sales and football tournaments, alongside personal donations
- Positive impact on over 30,000 individuals across 13 countries. The washing machines built and funded by RS Group have been deployed in refugee camps in Iraq and Lebanon, schools in Uganda and Kenya, and to homeless people in the USA, among other locations
Reflecting on the partnership, James Tucker, Social Impact Manager at RS Group, commented: "We are incredibly proud of the support we’ve been able to offer TWMP over the past three years. Our collective efforts have brought about tangible change in communities around the world, touching the lives of thousands of individuals. This extension was a natural next step as we continue our support through volunteering, providing skills and machine building, offering ongoing funding and extending our network and resources to them."
Looking ahead, RS Group has ambitious plans for the coming year. To expand volunteer opportunities globally, employees will participate in various activities, including a walking challenge, in-office machine builds, and skydiving. One employee is even set to climb Mount Snowdon carrying a Divya washing machine on his back.
“Thanks to RS Group’s generous fundraising, resources, and guidance on streamlining our supply chain to access remote regions, TWMP can focus our efforts over the next year on building Divya washing machines with even more RS Group employees. This will dramatically improve the lives of thousands of people around the world, including those in the CCAC Lesvos Refugee Camp in Greece. I’m excited to build on our learnings over recent years as we continue this special partnership," said Nav Sawhney, Founder, The Washing Machine Project.
