A team of attorneys from international law firm Haynes Boone assisted students from The Pennington School in securing a United States design patent for a water filtration system developed specifically to support residents of Dzaleka Refugee Camp.
The system, known as the “Better Kitchen Sink,” was created in collaboration with students and residents at Dzaleka, where access to clean water is limited and families often walk long distances to collect daily water supplies. The design allows commonly available plastic bottles to function as simple water filters using layers of materials such as cotton, gravel and charcoal, helping users wash dishes, clothes and conserve water for household use.
Tested within the refugee camp, the filtration system has already helped improve daily water access. Ongoing refinements aim to increase the volume of water that can be filtered at once.
This patented design builds on earlier work with Dzaleka, including the successful patent for a reusable menstrual product that can be manufactured using locally available materials — a project that has supported education, local sewing initiatives and menstrual health for girls in the camp.
The continued partnership between the student innovators and the community at Dzaleka underscores the impact that practical, community-driven solutions can have on improving daily life and resilience among refugees.
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