Meet Earthshot prize finalist, Vinisha!
She’s determined to clean up India’s air pollution…
14-year old Vinisha Umashankar is creating BIG change in the fight against air pollution and climate change! Let’s find out about the awesome invention that earned her a place in the Earthshot prize finals…
What’s the problem?
Each day in India, around 10 million ironing vendors take to the roadside, pressing clothes from their carts and burning up to five million kilograms of charcoal in the process.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
Ironing vendors use a metal iron kept warm by hot charcoal to smooth clothes against the flat surface of their cart, which is like a giant ironing board! Customers wait while the clothes are pressed, and pay for the service.
In Vinisha’s hometown of Tiruvannamalai, these carts are everywhere! One day, on her way home from school, Vinisha noticed an ironing vendor dumping used charcoal in a bin. ‘Surely that can’t be good for the city?’, she thought.
Curious, Vinisha decided to do some research. She found that people working at ironing carts often become ill with lung disease, as the charcoal polluted the air around them. Plus, huge numbers of trees are cut down to make the charcoal, so using it contributes to deforestation, too.
Having learned this startling information, Vinisha decided to do something to help. Using all her science knowledge, she started inventing…
How is Vinisha helping?
After lots of hard work, Vinisha created a solar-powered ironing cart, fuelled by clean energy from the sun! Her ingenious iron can work for six hours after just five hours’ charge. And guess what? It’s pollution-free! That makes it more environmentally-friendly, and safer for vendors, too. Yay!
Vinisha is hoping to manufacture her cart in India, and sell it at an affordable price, so that vendors can easily make the switch from charcoal to solar power. Ideally, she’d also love to send her clever creation to other countries in Asia and Africa, to help their vendors make the change, too.
AWESOME EARTHSHOT PRIZE!
Vinisha is a finalist for the ‘Clean Our Air’ category of Earthshot prize, a global environmental award. Read all about the award, and other finalists, on their website: Earthshot Prize 2021.
Image credits: The EarthShot Prize.
What would you design to help save the planet? Let us know in the comments below!
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Love it
if this works then good job to her. I want to help stop pollution so I litter pick every day. but I think she did a great job and that seems like a lot of hard work!!! :)
great job!!!!
Whoa she is soo brave maybe I will do that too!
Wow. We have got some real game changers! One day I wanna change the world as well!
I am an indian too ... great job !
Vinisha Did A Good Job
Well done Vinisha!
That is amazing Vinisha! Keep working hard inventing and saving the planet!
Amazing work Vinisha!
Awesome work!
it’s an amazing idea keep up the good work vinisha
Cool
This was a good artical thank you for making it. It is a great change for our planet earth. Let's spread the word.
go vinisha!
Great
Love this^ ^ :)
cool!
good job
Lovely Vinisha! I will also help to save the planet!
I love this
Amazing+Awseome
wow
good job!
I think this is really important to take action about what is happening to the inviorment
Greta is one little girl who knows how to do a story of Greta and the Giants I'm lean about it in school at Batemans bay public school in 4
This is awesome!
well done !
Your Love for Mother Earth is Amazing.. as your actions to save her. Mind-blowing!
Thank you all for the kind and supportive words! I am inspired to go further! Keep supporting ....
hurray!:)
Wow great job!
Cool
Awesome!
Good luckkkk
She must've worked really hard!!!
Vinisha's vision is an inspiration to young and old. Seeing a problem is one thing, sticking with it to create a solution is another. Hats off to her. It gives me faith that the world is in good hands with next gen care for environment.
Congrats Vinisha!
yay
Thumps up Vinisha! You will win the Earthshot Prize for sure!
This invention is so cool! It must have taken a lot of time and a lot of hard work. I really enjoy reading this and every day on NatGeoKid website it inspires me even more to love and care for the planet|!
go india
Wow I would love to stop pollution
that is really cool!
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