3. A back support for carrying firewood, farm produce

The design context.

Design and make a more comfortable, less strenuous method for carrying firewood or water for a person travelling by foot.

For background details of lifestyles etc. see both sections 1 and 2.
Women have heavy burdens to carry every day. They collect water, carry firewood, and carry young children. They may spend many hours every day searching for and bringing home firewood. The only means of support the poor women use is a headband that is tied around the forehead and temple and then bound round the firewood in bundles on their backs. There is massive pressure on the forehead and scalp and the women are bent double by the weight of the wood on their backs. Jeremiah thinks a method of supporting wood, keeping it from digging into both back and head would be a great asset, as long as it was cheap and effective.