Design and Make for Rural African Communities

In the developing world, many people lack access to hospitals because they live in remote villages with limited transportation options. Emily Young shares how the Okoa Project is pioneering an ambulance trailer that can be attached to any motorcycle.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 800 women around the world die every day due to preventable pregnancy complications—and 99% of these deaths are in developing countries. That’s because many people in these countries live far from the nearest hospital or professional healthcare office, and the only way to make the trip is over dirt roads with limited transportation options. The Okoa Project, a collaboration between The Olive Branch for Children and the D-Lab at MIT, is working to change this situation in Africa and around the world. They’ve designed a two-person ambulance trailer that can be attached to any motorcycle and can be manufactured and repaired by local tradespeople using locally available materials. Emily Young, co-founder and executive director of The Okoa Project, shares their process and their progress in saving lives, one ride at a time.

About the speaker

Emily Young is co-founder and Executive Director of the Okoa Project. A mechanical engineer with a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she has also worked with LimbForge to design and produce 3D-printed prosthetic arms in developing countries.

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