I recently returned from a trip to Southeast Asia where one of the highlights was my visit to Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples in Cambodia. Angkor Wat is easily the most beautiful, regal, and astounding place that I have visited in my short lifetime. However, you cannot visit this place without noticing another distraction - young children, or tout touts, that incessantly try to sell tourists cold drinks or souvenirs. I could not help but feel sorry for these kids. The children just looked so dirty and ragged and many of them trailed after me barefoot. All I wanted to do was give them a bath. I was reminded of this when I read the Yahoo! article and certainly wish I had bought hundreds of this new product to give to the kids.
This product is called DryBath, created by university student Ludwick Marishane from South Africa. DryBath allows its users to bathe without using water by applying a specially formulated lotion/gel. And since the poor can better afford individually packaged products (something I'm excited I already learned on a trip to Panama last year), DryBath is going to be sold in individually packed saches. What's even better is they plan to use the TOMS model where for every sache sold to someone that is on the wealthier side, another sache will be donated to those who really need it. Learn more about the product and the business/marketing plan here. All I can say is that I can't believe someone didn't think of this sooner. This is going to change the world!
Below is a video of Marishane presenting DryBath. Great presentation. I thought I was watching a TED Talk. I hope the best for DryBath and for Marishane.
