If you wanted to change the world, would you start with laundry?

(RNS) — Nav Sawhney had made it. He was working as an engineer, developing new technology for one of the world’s most innovative companies. What more could he want out of his profession?

The answer, it turns out, is a lot. In 2019, Sawhney left his comfortable life and job in the U.K. and moved to South India to start a new life and career, grounded in a vision of meaning, purpose and service. He helped make cookstoves with Engineers without Borders, an experience that transformed him as much as it transformed the people he served. During his time there, he met a woman, Divya, and through learning about the difficulties in her life, he decided to make her life easier by building her a washing machine. 

Upon returning to the U.K., he built a prototype, which led to Sawhney’s net initiative and his new passion: The Washing Machine Project. Sawhney has dedicated the past five years to building and growing this effort. He has since refined his prototype, named Divya, in honor of the woman who inspired his journey. Their model saves 50% of the water of a normal machine and 75% of the time women globally spend on handwashing laundry. 

Nav’s work is growing in reach and impact. The Whirlpool Foundation recently committed a large grant to the organization, and Nav’s project has been featured on prominent outlets, from the BBC to The Times of India, and now, with RNS. I sat down with Nav to discuss his path, including how his Sikh faith fits into the story. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

What inspired you to begin this work? How did it come about?

My inspiration to begin The Washing Machine Project stemmed from a combination of my engineering background and a desire to create tangible, impactful solutions for those in need.

After I graduated, I worked for a well-known vacuum and hair dryer company. I was bored, frustrated and unfulfilled. I later took a secondment working with Engineers without Borders in South India making cook stoves; this is where I met my nextdoor neighbor, Divya. I was struck by how much time Divya would spend doing back-breaking chores, including hand washing clothes for up to 20 hours each week. I made a promise to return to Divya with a manual washing machine and help make her life a little easier.

I returned to the U.K. and started the Washing Machine Project. So far we’ve impacted 30,000 lives and have a presence in 13 countries. We’re planning on impacting 150,000 people over the next 3-5 years.

Seven years later, after many different versions of the machine and now with a team of 11, we finally returned to India and we gifted Divya a machine.

How did your Sikh background inform your decision to take on this project?

From my personal interpretation of Sikh values, what really resonates with me is the value of “seva” (selfless service and giving). This central tenet, along with growing up in a household that emphasized giving back and recognizing the human race as one, influenced my outlook on life. 

These values, instilled in me by my family, gave me a commitment to address systemic issues and prioritize the needs of others, which naturally led me to create a solution that could help alleviate the struggles faced by many.

What Sikh values or teachings do you lean on?

The Sikh value of seva is very universal — being selfless and giving back to the community in which you serve. We listen to our users so carefully, making sure that their needs are met. It makes us quite unique in the methodology we use to go about this, which is always with dignity. 

We’re also aligned with the Sikh teaching of recognizing the human race as one. That guides our approach to this problem. The majority of people in the world handwashes clothes, so we focus on the common humanity we all share and work towards solutions that benefit the broader community.

There are plenty of needs among Sikhs, especially in Punjab. Why not look to serve just your community?

This issue goes beyond cultural and geographic boundaries. Although this is a massive problem in Punjab, we always go where the need is most. The issue of washing clothes spoke to me because of its pervasive impact on daily life for everyone and its potential for tangible, immediate relief.

What keeps you going in this work? It’s arduous and grinding and takes a lot of risk and commitment. What inspires you to continue giving in this way?

Delivering a washing machine to someone like Divya and seeing the immediate improvement in her life, and those like her. Quality of life is incredibly motivating. I am driven by the belief that engineering can change the world, and by surrounding myself with people who inspire me, I stay committed to this challenging yet deeply rewarding journey.