 What is the Hippo Water Roller?It is a tool designed to help women and children to transport more water more easily than traditional methods. ► empowers women and children
► saves time and energy ► reduces suffering The practical and durable design of the Hippo enables more water to be transported more efficiently and is able to cope with tough rural conditions and terrain. The Hippo, with it's large drum capacity of 90 litres / 24 gallons, frees women and children from having to spend a large portion of every day dedicated to collecting water for their households The Hippo’s drum can hold more than 4 buckets / jerry cans of water at once. Far less effort is required to roll the heavy weight of water (90kg / 200lbs) along the ground as apposed to carrying only one bucket (20kg / 45 lbs) on the head. (Add spaces between 90 kg and 200 lbs)  Why is it needed?Traditional methods of collecting water include carrying heavy 20 litre – 5 gallon buckets on the head. Over time these heavy loads place an enormous strain on the skeletal frame, causing long-term damage and premature ageing. Much time is wasted walking long distances to a water point and then carrying small amounts of water all the way home, often more than once a day. This daily burden is significantly reduced by using appropriate technology like the Hippo Water Roller which is able to carry 4 times the amount of one bucket with less effort saving time.  Who benefits?Mostly women and children are confronted with this daily task. The time and energy spent attending to this basic human right, of access to water, limits their educational and economic opportunities. More than a billion people worldwide do not enjoy the luxury of water on tap in or near their homes.  Where can they be obtained?Approximately 30,000 rollers have been distributed worldwide over the past 15 years, benefiting over 200,000 people. Currently, all Hippo Water Rollers are manufactured and shipped from South Africa. Imvubu Projects in South Africa has developed a mobile factory which can be placed in countries where large quantities of rollers are needed. The purpose is to significantly reduce the high shipping costs of exporting rollers to remote African and other countries. The majority of Hippo rollers are handed out in partnership with NGO’s, corporate businesses and governments who have the resources to donate rollers to impoverished communities. |
