Project H Fundraiser: H is for Hippo… WE DID IT!
Thanks to all your support, we have funded 75 Hippo Rollers for Kgautswane in South Africa! Our initial target was 50, which we met in less than two weeks. Project H will be on the ground to hand deliver the rollers on March 26-29th, and will report back with photos, details, and more.
STAY TUNED THIS SUMMER FOR OUR NEXT “FUND THIS PRODUCT” INITIATIVE
If you’d still like to donate, it’s not too late! Any additional donations made via the Paypal link below will go directly to Hippo Roller (not Project H) and will not be included in this batch of 75 rollers. But any additional support is greatly appreciated and will go towards future roller deliveries throughout Africa.
What’s a Hippo Roller and how is Project H involved?
The Hippo Roller is a simple rolling barrel device that allows the millions whose livelihoods depend on the daily fetching of water to more easily access and transport their daily water supply, and reduce the risk of long-term bodily injuries. The roller holds 3-4 days worth of water for a family of 7, about 5 times the amount of water that can be moved using traditional methods, which frees up time for more productive economic and educational activities. It’s an amazing product and an amazing story of good design enabling communities.At the end of March, Project H will be traveling to South Africa to visit the Hippo Roller’s manufacturer and headquarters, and will personally hand over fifty rollers to a community in Northeastern South Africa in need of enabling water systems. The rollers are a gesture of support and a catalyst for more collaboration on larger water systems projects within Kgautswane.
What we funded: 75 Hippo Rollers for a group of 17 villages in the Kgautswane community of Northeast South Africa- total population 120,000Total amount raised: $7500 (50 rollers, $100 each- $90 for production and $10 for delivery- Project H did not take any part of your donation)DONATE DIRECTLY TO HIPPO ROLLER USING THE PAYPAL LINK BELOW:
Similar in function to the QDrum, the Hippo Roller makes water transport easy for millions whose daily routine includes fetching water from far-off sources.Traditional methods of collecting water include the use of 20-liter (5-gallon) buckets, which are laboriously carried on the head. This method is time and energy consuming and the cause of many serious health problems, particularly spinal and back injuries. Designers Pettie Petzer & Johan Jonker, in collaboration with South African NGOs and Imvubu Projects designed the large UV-stabilized polyethylene drum with a screw-on lid and a steel clip-on handle to carry 90 liters (20 gallons) of water. The filled drum is turned on its side and pushed like a steamroller. There are 25,000 rollers in use to date.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:43 am
[…] best part? You have a opportunity to take part. Project H Design is accepting donations to fund 50 Hippo Rollers for a group of 17 villages in the Kgautswane community of Northeast South […]
February 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Emily! What a wonderful idea! I’m sending my check today. Learned about you from Jetson Green site, who learned about our translucent illumaWALL months ago from Inhabitat site. The world is small indeed and we need to get much closer to each other. Your project ranks up there with the Heifer Foundation, which I’m also proud to support. Best wishes for success. Linda Byam
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 am
Project H Design, Put Your Name on a Hippo Roller…
I just want to take a quick second to plug a good cause and introduce you to Project H Design, if you haven’t already heard of it. Project H Design…
February 25th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Surely this Hippo Roller doesn’t cost $100 to manufacture? If the high cost is due to the fact that it’s being manufactured in the US (in stead of South Africa where it was designed) and then shipped to Africa then it’s just another example of the rich capitalist nations surpressing the african continent. Would be very interested to find out what my $100 goes towards (which i’m withholding for the moment). Thank you, John
February 25th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Hi John!
I’m the Founder of Project H, Emily Pilloton. I really appreciate your support and thoughts on this project. To clear up the numbers, the Hippo Rollers cost $90 USD to produce in South Africa, and $10 to transport. Project H is not taking any money or administrative fees for running this campaign. The rollers are made from a high quality durable plastic (a hygienic UV stabilized Polyethylene) and consist of a drum, screw cap, and clip on handle. While it’s easy to imagine it being cheaply manufactured in the US, the process is actually much more involved (and thoughtful) in its design and production than one might think. I’m thrilled to be working with Grant and Cynthia of Hippo Roller and can assure you that all donors’ money are going straight to the production and delivery of the rollers.
Thanks for all your support!
Sincerely,
Emily Pilloton
Founder, Project H Design
www.projecthdesign.com
February 26th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I must ask how this costs $90 to produce? A HIP (High Impact Plastic) tub with one, or maybe two, small axels on the sides with a metal handle. I am very curious as to the validation of the expense of this product and where the money is going. Is part of the cost going to the original designer of it (royalties)? Was this design for a fee or was it donated?
I don’t mean to diminish the value of your work, as it does seem to be a very useful, and simple idea, which will help the remotely located poor access water more efficiently. So thank you for doing this. But, I do hope that you welcome initial scrutiny from the public on this drive as it has just taken on a life of it’s own and will continue do to the social networks which have picked it up (Stumble Upon, Digg, etc..).
Thanks,
Jason
February 29th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Hello lovely people!
What a phenomenal, brilliant idea this is. The most amazing things sure do come from simplicity! Unlike John North, i completely understand that it often takes more to manufacture these things than you would think. He might be thinking of the products he purchases in the US, which are made in bulk by slave children.
Congratulations on the brilliance again. It’s so inspiring to come across projects like this.