I admit it. I have a special affinity for innovations that address a prevalent social need by a deceptively simple and effective solution. A solution that takes an ordinary object and transforms its functionality by daring to ask the ‘What if?’ question.
The ordinary object in question is none other than the wheelbarrow. And the global need it is being repurposed to address is water transport in poor countries. The Hippo Water Roller combines the mechanics of a wheelbarrow with a plastic container that acts both as the wheel and the water storage unit. The resulting, simple device can carry 5x more water than a bucket, with a fraction of the effort. The roller was designed by a couple of rural Africans, and is already used in over 20 countries.
