For a nation that has seen extreme poverty, combining exercise and technology to earn a living might sound quite significant. A name that is introducing people of Guatemala to a way to survival is Maya Pedal. Ever since it came into existence in 2001, Maya Pedal's workshop has been creating handmade low-cost machines that have variety of uses ranging from threshing corn to de-shelling coffee beans to even blending fruit smoothies.
pedal powered machine1
pedal powered machine2
Backed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the group crafts all their ingenious machines from old bike parts, concrete, wood, and metal. The project's most popular designs include the nut-sheller, the mobile water pump, and the bicycle mill. The water pump uses a line of rope to lift water at 5-10 gallons per minute from wells and boreholes, supplying residents with clean drinking water. The team is presently working on the prototypes of bicycle washing machines and electricity generators.
The people here do not have access to electricity, so Maya Pedal's machines help them in performing their daily tasks more easily. This new breed of bicycles across Guatemalan farmland brings a greener and brighter tomorrow for the citizens. If you too wish to check out these innovative machines visit the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C where they are on display in "Design for the Other 90%," a free exhibit.
Via: NationalGeographic
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