
An Irish girl has invented a life-saving sleeping bag for the homeless with the added benefit of creating jobs for some former street dwellers. Emily Duffy came up with the idea after “living rough” for a day on Dublin’s streets, experiencing life as the homeless do to raise money for a charity that helps them. The 15-year-old Desmond College student thought cloth bags were too impractical dirty, dangerous, and hard to keep dry. Duffy’s invention, dubbed “Duffily Bags,” has a highly reflective, fire retardant, and waterproof shell. Velcro straps replace the usual zippers, allowing the user to get in and out more easily. She recently showed off her invention at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in Dublin, which showcased some of the brightest ideas of the country’s young people. The bags are already being produced by formerly homeless people now earning $10 an hour at the Mendicity Institution a homeless service center in Dublin.