24 April 2020
5 third-world struggles that people from developed countries take for granted
It’s not until you no longer have something, that you start to miss it, but that’s a luxury many of us in developed countries can say about unimportant things.
What about if you never had it in the first place such as food or water – the basic needs we all have, yet many of us seldom give a second thought to? What if you no longer had the convenience of going to the local supermarket or ordering online? Not everyone in a developed country has this sort of opportunity.
Here, we share 5 third-world struggles that people from developed countries take for granted:
- Water– it may come as a surprise that women of all ages still carry most of the world’s water which, over time, can lead to chronic neck and back pain as well as musculoskeletal disorders. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see women and children walking some 2 miles a day to collect water, carrying as much as 10kg buckets on their head. We’re tackling this problem head-on, offering a unique invention called The Water Wheel which carries 5x more water per trip without the need for heavy lifting.
- Hunger – studies estimate that 1 in 9 people are affected by hunger worldwide. Factors that affect this are poverty, war, economy and even climate change. In developed countries, we are spoiled with nutritional facts on the labels, but in third-world countries, there are missing out on nutrition full stop.
- Healthcare – from simple GP visits to hospital stays, developed nations have the best medical facilities available. Compare that to others less fortunate that don’t have the medical supplies, let alone not having the required medical staff to administer them.
- War – war-torn areas aren’t safe for anybody to inhabit. Imagine fearing for your life each and every day in places with social unrest and lack of protection. For those who suffer these hostile environments daily will be affected not only with their physical well-being but also their mental health.
- Education – without the right education, the path to progression is difficult. Adequate educators are needed in order for communities to reach their full potential. There are countless stats out there that show the incredible powers of education, but one of the most staggering is that each additional year of education can increase a person’s future income by an average of 10%. More income means more access to water, food, healthcare, and so on – so path toward socio-economic development starts here.
More on our mission
Although wells in rural India are now more accessible than they were 20 years ago, it’s still common to see women of all ages carrying water in a metal pail balanced on their heads for several miles.
Aiming to prevent the health burdens and cycle of poverty that water collection can create, we’re on a mission to supply The Water Wheel to families in need across India – a large drum fitted with handles which can be rolled along the ground with ease.
These round containers enable users to roll water from the wells rather than carry it on their heads and can transport up to 5x more water per trip compared to a standard bucket. This life-changing innovation is also allowing young girls to stay in school and receive education as they no longer need to be involved in water collection.
