Every once in a while there is a great idea that is so simple and practical that it can make you smile, laugh, scream, shout, or do some strange & wonderful celebratory dance. These ideas in action are called SOCIAL INVENTIONS and they renew my hope in people.

Here is a great example. The Q-drum.

Water is life. In water rich areas we take that for granted.

For those without the luxury of running water the most common solution is carrying it, usually on their heads. Water is very heavy and this is most commonly the task of women and children. People (especially in Sub-Sahara Africa) carry impossibly heavy loads of water or firewood on their heads for long distances on tricky unpaved terrain.

The first time I witnessed this I thought, “Apes, fugettaboutit, what about our ANTcestry.” (Jokes that bad are reserved for dads of all ages. I gotta just embrace it.)

Here is shot from a trip to Harar, Ethiopia.

Seriously.

The beauty of the Q-Drum is its simplicity. A wheel reinvented so that a child can easily transport up to 50 liters of water.

While this invention is exciting and inspiring some questions and concerns still remain.

I have yet to find out how much the Q costs or how it is distributed to those in need. The company is based in South Africa (which is a good sign). I have contacted the company but have yet to hear a response. I will report back as soon as these questions are answered.

The second issue is the safety of the material used to make the Q. The Q is made from a Linear Low Density Polyethylene, or LLC PE. I know, any ingredient list that includes an acronym for a polysyllabic manmade product, scare me too.

The site describes the material as having “a high compatibility with foodstuffs and water”. And most likely, you use it. This is often the same stuff you put your produce in at the grocery store. The FDA approves it for food and water usage, but hell, the FDA approves Monsanto’s Frankenstein corn, soy, and canola, so, go figure.

All questions aside, congratulations to the inventors and here’s to hoping this product is truly safe and becomes available to those who most need its assistance in basic survival.

My hope is that Q-Drum will set up a “gifting” system like Heifer.org has set up for their programs of social enterprise, making the product available to members of developed nations to purchase the Q as a “gift” to friends and have it delivered to family in need.

Do you have a SOCIAL INVENTION? I would love to hear about it.

Much Respect,

Papa Ganda