Every eight seconds, one person dies from illnesses associated with inhaling smoke from open flame cooking. That’s the equivalent of losing the entire population of New Zealand every single year. The inhalation of smoke can lead to lung disease, eye disease, and death. Women and children are the most vulnerable. Some 4.3 million people succumb annually to illnesses from open flame cooking, which is more than the amount of people who die from HIV and malaria - combined.

I'm giving up my job and salary for a year and moving to India, to work for free as a research and development manager for social enterprise Prakti. I’ll be helping to design cookstoves that are 80% more fuel efficient and produce 80% less smoke. These stoves will save lives. Watch this video to find out more: https://vimeo.com/48818442

I know I’m lucky: I’ve got a good education, a job and a stable income. I’m able to travel where I want and do the things I feel like without worrying about money. Having enough to eat, access to clean water and healthcare are things that I don’t even need to think about.

I want to use my good fortune to support others, who don’t have the same luxuries – but I want to do this in a sustainable way that will make a lasting change to as many people as possible. That's why I’m combining my desire to help people with my engineering skills, to make a difference to the lives of millions across the developing world.

While I’m there, I’ll be using my blog, Nav’s Project 365, as a platform to raise awareness of social issues in India and create change. I’ll be meeting people living in poverty and telling their stories, championing charities and showing my international audience the reality of life in the developing world.

The money that you help me raise will be used to fund my return flight, insurance, food and other living expenses while I’m in India.