Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz is an 8-year-old girl on a mission. At such a tender age, she’s trying to help families in need while respecting the environment and it’s a move that has landed her an award from UNAM’s Institute of Nuclear Sciences for outstanding scientific achievement.
LatinLive reports that Xóchitl, from Mexico, has managed to design and build a water heating device that not only runs by solar power but is made entirely of recycled materials. There’s an added environmental bonus to the ingenious device, too: In Xóchitl’s hometown, incomes are low so inhabitants have to resort to chopping down trees to use as firewood to heat their water. Thanks to Xóchitl’s invention, the inhabitants can have warm water and the trees are spared.
While the young girl has impressed the adult world with her invention, her generous nature is just as remarkable. With the device safely installed on the roof of their home, her family can heat their water to bathe properly. But Xóchitl makes sure she only takes a quick bath so the water remains warm for her younger brother. Now that’s a thoughtful big sister!

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Leonardo Da Vinci designed this invention, but it was never built. Until now.