I am a motivated engineer, who has the skills to successfully develop a solution to heat waves occurring and taking the lives of many around the world. I am from Karachi, Pakistan, where extreme heat waves attack every summer and more than 2000 people die from heat stroke. I have personally worked with non-profit organizations located in Karachi that work with enabling those deprived of their basic needs of life, such as water and food. I plan to further work with them to enable a solution to extreme thermal conditions, providing shade to those in need.

A cheap, hands-free, simple and compact solution to the many deaths caused by heat waves around the world. The Brella is an easy to assemble, easy to use shade that fits in many functions. It is essentially made out of cardboard, which has a low thermal conductivity, allowing the Brella to block heat transfer. The Brella comes with different attachable parts for more convenience, such as an attachment that allows it to be worn on the head, preferably for workers in the heat who need this hands-free solution. Another attachment is the backpack solution, that allows one to wear the Brella over the shoulders. This product comes in many sizes, depending on how many people want to be under it; the bigger sizes can cover a whole family! There is a fastener at the top of the dome of the Brella, which allows it to close into a compact triangle, by rotating the wings on top of each other and placing them in the specific box given. This product will cost less than a dollar and it has the potential to save so many lives.

This product is offered to foundations made to help people fulfil their basic needs, and specifically the need to life under extreme heat conditions. This issue is mostly risen around Africa, Asia, and other countries close to the equator. We will begin by targeting specific cities that currently face this issue firsthand, such as Karachi. In Karachi, the Care and Relief Foundation will purchase this product from us, according to need, and it will be their responsibility to distribute them to users as they may. Similarly, in other parts of the world as well, we will work with foundations that already have the passion for saving a life, with something as simple as just providing shade.

The foundations that work towards fulfilling the basic needs of people already have the passion and care to help people and give them what they need. They care because it will save people from the severe heat conditions and still allow them to earn for their family, while also preventing death ultimately. The foundation will have a simple, cheap option to save those they care about.

The user will find our product very easy to use, with a variety of functions and attachments depending on their specific needs. The main function will be saving them from heat stroke and allow them to continue with their life with this hands free alternative.

I have volunteered with similar foundations that are passionate to make a change in the lives of people in need. My brother is the CEO of Ascovime Canada, an organization that fights illiteracy and diseases in the rural parts of Africa by providing free medical care and school supplies to those in need. My cousins in Karachi have started their own foundation and work closely with the Care and Relief Foundation to serve food on the streets to those in need, especially in the month of fasting. I know this issue firsthand because I am originally from an area that faces the extreme heat every summer.

The targeted users for the Brella are homeless, which means they have no shelter over their head. The alternative to using Brella as a shade for these users would be to find trees or other sources of shade. Sitting under a tree or tall building prevents them from continuing work because they are bound to that one area. On the other hand, Brella gives them the hands free shade, with the necessary attachments, they are able to continue with their life and still be safe from the extensive heat.

A substitute would be to buy a regular umbrella, or even an umbrella hat, which range from $7.00 to about $70.00. Most of the users, who are homeless, cannot afford $7, or even 3 meals a day. Our solution costs less than a dollar and the organizations will be more willing to buy a cheaper but still compatible solution.

Another substitute would be to wear a cap. This goes straight on the head and covers the whole scalp. According to the National Health Service, tight hats can trap oils at your hair’s roots and leave the ends dry. When hair gets greasy, the circulation of oxygen to your follicles may be obstructed and dirt and bacteria may build up, potentially causing hair to fall out. In extreme heat, hats also create so much discomfort for the user because of the increase of sweat.