At age 14, Reyma Jose, from Kerala, India, created a pedal-powered washing machine to solve a practical problem in her family life. The young girl designed and built the device so she could dedicate more time to her studies while helping with household chores.
Reyma was in 10th grade, the year of final exams in India, and faced a particularly demanding routine. Daily, she made a long journey to school, using three buses and spending about two hours each way.
The family situation became significantly worse when her mother fell ill and her father began cancer treatment. As a result, the responsibility for household tasks fell largely on Reyma and her twin sister, including washing the family's clothes.
The young girl did not have money to buy a conventional washing machine, which led her to find a creative and inventive solution. Through her ingenuity, she managed to create a device that allowed her to save time and continue dedicating herself to her studies during this difficult period.
