TerraWash is an idea that was developed while visiting an Amerindian Village in Guyana, South America.  The village was largely off-grid, with some water tubing and rainwater collection.  Engaging in conversation with the local population, we quickly realized the extent of physical labour involved in providing clean, sanitary clothing for their families.  And, that this labour disproportionately involved women and girls.  Via a proposal support was provided by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Guyana and TerraWash was created. 

At TerraWash, our mission is to improve the quality of life for remote, off-grid communities by delivering sustainable, low-energy laundry solutions that support health, dignity, and gender equity. Headquartered in Canada, we are focused on serving Guyana, South America—particularly the country’s vast and underserved Amerindian populations.

Across the globe, over 60% of people wash their clothes by hand, with women and girls often spending up to 20 hours per week on this labor-intensive task. This burden disproportionately affects their ability to attend school, pursue employment, or engage in community leadership. In Guyana, where Amerindians represent approximately 10.5% of the population (more than 70,000 people), these challenges are compounded by extreme geographic isolation.  Many of these communities are only reachable by bush planes.

In partnership with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs of Guyana, TerraWash is deploying off-grid / manually operated machines.  Our solutions are engineered to reduce time poverty, ease physical labor, and promote cleaner living environments—while advancing the well-being of women and girls at the centre of these communities.

Through this initiative, TerraWash is committed to bridging engineering with impact, fostering opportunity for the most remote populations in Guyana—one clean load at a time.