Nikola Energy

We provide access to effective hand washing solutions to help combat COVID-19, and other hygiene related diseases e.g cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, hepatitis E.

Our solution is an automated hand washing barrel that allows for 700 washes per barrel and by the use of IoT, dispenses soap and water automatically. The system also utilizes an LCD display system and a beeper to inform the user how long they should lather their hands and when to move to the water system to rinse off. Everything has been setup to follow the WHO guidelines on hand-washing practices that aid in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases.

If scaled globally, the solution will prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other hygiene related diseases,further to this, the solution will promote the effective management of resources (water and soap), support proper hygiene practices and utilize green energy by the use of solar.

42% of Kenyans, about 21 million, live under poverty line. This is 3 times the population of New York City. 45% of Kenyans living in the 'middle' class also do not have  consistent supply of water on a daily basis. Kenya, has 3 Refugee camps with about 300,000 Refugees. With limited access to basic necessities such as food, water, hygiene and energy at the refugee camps (Kakuma, Dadaab and Liboi) and among the 'middle' class, combating advent of Corona pandemic is difficult.

Children at Dadaab refugee camp collecting unhygienic water for use.

A good example is Nairobi, a densely populated area. Since its outbreak, the spread of the virus has not yet been contained even by the recent curfew measures. Walking along the street markets in Nairobi, one cannot but notice the few number of washing stations in place. Keeping the spread of Corona virus controlled requires a high level of hygiene. The virus survives on metal surfaces for 5 days, and the available washing solutions require direct contact with taps, which means possibility of transmission remains high, particularly in public places. With scarcity of water, there is also wastage of water and soap within available washing setups.

The automated hand washing system is a station consisting of a barrel that holds soap and water, two taps opposite of each other, a motion sensor and a roof that holds the solar panel, battery and IoT devices.

When a person approaches the system, a sign of where to wave a hand to trigger the system is displayed. The person then puts their hands below the soap dispensing tap which dispenses soap for 1 sec. A countdown of 20 seconds is then displayed by an LCD screen which is the time to lather hands properly as directed by WHO. After 20 seconds of proper lathering, the person puts their hands below the water dispensing tap which dispenses clean water to rinse hands for 15 seconds. 

Using IoT gives us the means to dictate the amount of water plus soap per dispensation, do away with physical contact with the taps and reduce the amount of water consumed per dispensation from 1.7 liters to 0.3 liters. With the barrel at a full capacity of 230 liters of water, the station is able to service over 700 people before requiring a refill. 

1. Our solution is committed to serving refugee camps (Dadaab, Liboi and Kakuma) where about 300,000 refugees reside.

 2. High density low income and slum areas such as Kibera, Kawangware, and Mathare, and intentionally target schools in these areas.

3. Poorly resourced counties within Kenya where water is scarce for example in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties.

Clean water scarcity in Dadaab remains a pressing issue.

Part of our solid engagements include: 

1. Utilizing the skills of 'Jua Kali' (low income artisans) to provide employment opportunities for those that have been economically affected by the pandemic.

2. Training the target group from slum areas and refugee camps, to sensitize them on proper hand washing practices and prevention of the spread of the virus. 

3. Working hand in hand with those who live in slums towards a change of cultural practices around hand washing and hygiene in general (even post COVID-19) to avoid the risk of outbreak of poor hygiene based diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, Hepatitis E which are common.

Automated hand washing solutions will ensure proper usage of soap and water which is often a privilege to many living within middle income countries. The system will moreover ensure no physical contact with taps hence reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission around washing stations.

Approximately 19,500 Kenyans, including 17,100 children under 5 years die each year from diarrhea and cholera. Nearly 90% of which is directly attributed to poor water, sanitation and hygiene. Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis and recently Covid-19. Inadequate or inappropriately managed water and sanitation services expose individuals to preventable health risks.

Introducing our system in these areas would encourage proper hygiene habits, and by the enforcement of proper hand-washing as a core in these societies preventing the unnecessary contraction and spread of above mentioned diseases.

We are currently building a second MVP to introduce a mobility component that is compatible and best fit for the communities we intend to serve. As it stands, our first MVP is difficult to move but informed us of the viability of our solution ad has helped us introduce the mobility component which will better serve the target communities. Our second MVP also features an addition of sinks to increase the number of washes being done simultaneously and enhance system efficiency.

OUR SECOND MVP

In the future, we would also like to include a temperature sensor and GPS to support the component of incidence surveillance. 

1. Our IoT enabled automated hand washing system is key in the prevention of transmission of COVID-19. This is because it ensures there is no contact between one person to another through turning on and off of taps.

2. By regulation of the water amounts that are released by the pumping system, water conservation is enhanced. This is because water is released as per needed, and not constantly flowing like with conventional systems.

3. The project is made possible by use of recycled plastic, E waste and repurposed metals, making it environmentally friendly. 

4. The space between the roof and the taps will be utilized for advertisements or spread the message of ways to fight COVID-19.

5. Data in terms of how many people have washed their hands at a certain station can be used for major advancements in the fight against this pandemic.

6. The washing barrel is highly modifiable. This means elements can be added or removed to suit a wide range of markets. For example, an indoors version is available for public washroom systems that doesn’t include the barrel or the solar panel.

7. The system will service a higher number of people (more than 700) before requiring a refill.

8. Research is underway, however, for technological improvements that can apply in the commercial sector, to provide income to ensure that the project remains viable for a longer period of time.

Currently, our solution consists of only a single barrel that works to serve an average of about 700 people. We are hoping to have produced at least 800 barrels, which are expected to serve at least 220,000 people,  the entirety of the population of Dadaab refugee camp which is the largest refugee camp in Africa.

In five years, we hope to have expanded our reach to have fully covered at least four refugee camps in East and Central Africa and the entirety of Kibera and Mathare slums, which average the largest slum population globally.

First we built our prototype and set it out for testing usability and desirability. Then based on the feedback we got and market research, we decided to do a second MVP to increase the number of sides of use and so instead of having one sink we have two. Moreover, we are adding more IoT components to measure water level when the water is at a quarter way and temperature for the users. 

Therefore in terms of measuring our progress, we are basing our impact on the feedback that we get from users, and if we manage to acquire funding by end of this year, we will be able to set up 950 stations for 600,000 beneficiaries, including 130 public schools (10 in each county), Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps as well slums around Kenya. 

More information about our progress is on page 11 (Development process) on our pitch deck: https://drive.google.com/file/...

We a female led company encompassing  a total of five people, all working full-time, with a larger number of workers hailing from low income backgrounds. 

Our team is well positioned to deliver this solution as a large number of the people within the team comprises of people from low income areas themselves. We have seen first hand the threat that is posed to people living within these societies in terms of infections through Covid-19, and other diseases such as Cholera. Most of us, have by extension, come into contact with hygiene based diseases. The desire to come up with this solution therefore stems predominantly from a "making a difference and impacting lives in our societies" point of view, as opposed to a "making profits" point of view.

In addition, we have a qualified team of experts that has been working together to make this project work and to constantly make improvements on it. Mark Mutaiti is proficient in Programming in C++ and Python, Philip Mburu is exemplary in electronics and wiring, Alvin Kiiru and Shabaya Deche are experts in physical designs. Dr. Kendi Muchungi is a specialist in technical projects with more than five years of experience in different projects that have impacted many lives. Therefore through each team member contribution and working together as a team towards a common goal, we are able to deliver quality.

1. We are a female led team with Dr. Kendi Muchungi being in charge of all operations and the decision making process.
2. The team works with individuals with low economic capability (under $2 a day) to help it in the fabrication and actualization of the models. Our team also comprises of some members from financially excluded backgrounds.
3. We are also looking into the introduction of persons with disability to ensure inclusion. 
4. Regarding our goal: The team has actively been working towards introducing more females to the manufacture and design process, with the aim of achieving 50/50 gender balance by the end of the year. 

Lastly, our team does not discriminate on grounds of tribe, religion, gender or sexual orientation when considering the team members, or partners to work with. 

We believe, great leaders are those who directly or indirectly impact the lives of their communities and become of value rather than focusing on personal success. We are are deeply committed to bring a change in our community by improving people's life style and mostly health. We are therefore applying to Solve MIT because we have a great solution to the world's most pressuring challenge at the moment, which is disease and pandemics. Lack of funding being our greatest barrier, we are therefore seeking help from Solve in order to get financial support from a community of funders and experts to advance on our innovative work through Solve mentorship programs. 

If our solution is selected, we will be able to overcome our greatest barrier and get an opportunity to deploy our model to impact and change the lives of needy refugees and people from low income backgrounds. For example, funding will enable us to increase partnerships with local and low income artisans who will be involved in fashioning our project designs such as the barrels. 

Our biggest challenge is financial aid at the moment. Each barrel costs $500 to set up, and since we are working to help low income, high exposure areas such as public schools, slums and refugee camps get access to proper handwashing facilities, every cent we can lay our hands on goes a long way in saving lives. 

In addition to this, some assistance in sourcing IoT components such as the Arduino board and sensors would help us cut costs, and facilitate more efficient production of our barrels. 

We would also like to partner with global goodwill organisations like the red cross society, United nations and also WHO who have a footing in the low income areas. We can utilize such a partnership to be able to gauge other areas that may be in need of sanitary practices, water conservation and health sector improvement.

We would also like to partner with MIT solve and MIT faculty of engineering so as to improve our solution further by doing more research while taking advantage of MIT resources to make our solution a global goal towards zero health risks, water and energy conservation as well as improved technology around sub-Saharan Africa. 

The MIT solve team will give us mentorship, advice and moreover connect us with other financial supporters. 

A key part of our solution entails delivering of our systems to refugee camps within the country, as a means of improving on hygiene within these societies and curbing the above mentioned diseases.

Our team is led by a woman and with increased funding we can have the capacity to hire and empower more women as our products heads to market. 

Water collection in homes in Africa is predominantly done by women, by facilitating water conservation and recycling, we reduce the burden on women associated with sourcing water.