After experiencing a long, sleepless night in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, was when Sarah Collins had a stroke of genius to create the Wonderbag. Genius usually comes from insanity, and after a sleepless night it is probable that any human would go insane. Luckily for Sarah, it worked in her favor. There were severe, ongoing power shortages in South Africa and she wanted a way to empower the people of this country. It was her life’s mission. Who knew that a powerless, heat-retention cooker would be the answer?
After introducing the product to a grandmother caring for nine orphans, she knew it would change the world. “Their lives were completely changed. Within three months, the children only needed to gather firewood once a week, and they were all in school. They had money for shoes. It was a catalyst out of poverty for them,” says Sarah. Since then, she has donated over 700,000 Wonderbags to families in need all around the world.
The Wonderbag is a slow cooker that essentially cooks food using heat retention. It requires no electricity. It is cost-effective and environmentally friendly, all while providing home-cooked meals made from fresh ingredients (which is a breath of fresh air in a world of processed, fried foods). Not only is this product a slow cooker, it is also a nice pillow for your pet. Don’t worry! Your pooch won’t be on the menu. It will just keep him nice and warm while he naps. Talk about multipurpose, right? So, why not invest in one? Sarah also runs a wonderful (pun-intended) program where purchasing one Wonderbag for yourself, will also give one to a family in need. This one-for-one program “empowers consumers, by giving them innovative ways to be part of the solutions that the world is looking for.”
As a matter of fact, in 2011, CEO of Unilever, Paul Polman, teamed up with Sarah in an effort to make a lasting impact. “I grew up in rural South Africa under Apartheid and realized that equality was a problem. I always wanted to change the status quo, especially for women and children. Women are the backbone of these communities,” says Collins. The Unilever brand managers were originally skeptics, but in the first few weeks there was a 247% increase in growth rate. It is apparent that this dream team cannot be stopped!
Watch how the Wonderbag saved Sarah’s day!
On her days off from saving the world, this super heroine reminisces about her beloved dog Fred (otherwise known as her “best friend”). “I adopted him when he was 1 years old from a horse yard in Maun, Botswana. His brother got eaten by a crocodile and they where left to run wild until I took him home and he slept in my bed from then until the day he died, 12 years later,” Sarah revealed to us.
Fred was also a fan of Wonderbags (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?). He became chief taster and security guard at the market stalls where she first sold them.
“Fred loved to curl up on the Wonderbags once they had been used, perhaps the lasting scent of yummy lamb stew, or beef casserole, gave him delicious doggy dreams. He had his very own Wonderbag and heaven help anyone who tried to use it to cook with. Fred was a Wonderdoggie, like no other; he was the original and will always be the tongue behind the Wonder of the Wonderbag. We miss him terribly. But, he is not forgotten, nor ever will he be.” Let’s keep Fred’s honor alive by supporting this amazing product and cause.
Helping human kind and animal kind has been successfully checked off on this entrepreneur’s “to do” list, so what is next for Sarah? It is unknown. However, these extraordinary efforts to solve world issues and to empower others (especially women) should not go unnoticed. Sarah Collins serves as an inspiration to everyone around with her unique, selfless story. It is evident, that the rest of humanity should take a cue from this exemplary woman.
Click HERE to purchase the Wonderbag!
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