9-year-old builds foot operated hand washing system to prevent coronavirus infections

Stephen Wamukote is 9-year-old boy from Kenya. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he saw on TV a piece about ways to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, and decided to take initiative and build a tool that would help is village stay safe. So, he took some of his father’s wood and constructed a simple frame that allows people to wash their hands without touching any surfaces.

"I had bought some pieces of wood to make a window frame, but I when I came back home after work one day I found that Stephen had made the machine. The concept was his and I helped tighten the machine. I'm very proud", Stephen’s father explains.

He has now built to machines and plans to build more to place around the village. The machines consist of a wooden frame, that supports a basin, a water tank and a bottle of soap dispenser. It has two pedals and a system of levers through which, by pressing the water pedal, the machine tilts the water tank and allows water to flow out, and by pressing the other pedal, it dispenses soap. Stephen also inserted a pipe system to dispose of the waste water.

For his invention, Stephen was awarded the Presidential Order of Service and the governor of his county has promised to award him with a scholarship for his primary and secondary education, to help him follow his dream of becoming an engineer.

Adapted from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52898797
https://thelogicalindian.com/story-feed/get-inspired/kenyan-boy-honoured...
https://youtu.be/ZGfZGQyEaqk