Hope, Determination, and Transformation: Alex’s 15-Year Journey in Southeast Asia.
Join us in discovering how Alex Wettstein’s 15-year mission in Southeast Asia with the Fair Future Foundation brings hope, clean water, healthcare, and transformation to ultra-rural communities.
If you don’t wash your hands after using the bathroom, the worst-case scenario is spreading germs and putting yourself and others at risk. “We wash our hands for the same reason that we flush the toilet”, or that we should rinse with a bucket of water, the rudimentary place that serves as a toilet for tens of thousands of families who have never had the joy of having sanitation facilities where they live.
In the unforgiving landscapes of Southeast Asia’s most arid and remote regions, Alex Wettstein, founder and president of the Fair Future Foundation based in Switzerland, sits on the ground, his face marked by unwavering determination.
He is not alone; alongside him are Kawan Neni, the expert in detecting deep underground water sources in these unforgiving terrains and facilitating the drilling process, but also Primus, Ino, Elthon, and all the villagers of this very poor village of Laindatang, where we have been deeply involved since we were 18 months old.
They find themselves at a pivotal moment: they precisely measure the place where they hit the water, almost 80 meters below the surface. This new water source is a lifeline for families who have known nothing but hardship, illness, and constant struggle. In these ultra-rural areas, access to clean water, sanitation, electricity, and basic healthcare is a distant dream. It’s a harsh reality that Alex and the foundation have been fighting against for 15 long years.
As the Swiss-based foundation approaches its 15th anniversary in February 2024, Alex remains as dedicated and active as ever. It embodies the Swiss foundation’s unwavering commitment to bringing tangible and transformative change to these isolated communities. This photo not only captures a moment of discovery of water, but testifies to the enduring spirit of humanitarian work, of selfless dedication without expectations, aiming only at the gift of smiles.
Although finding water is an essential facet of their mission, it is not the only objective. Often, Alex and his large team of tireless volunteers provide lifesaving medical care, reaching out to those who are suffering. Access to healthcare is Fair Future’s primary mission. Their work is far from a fairy tale; it is a relentless quest to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. It’s hard, it’s hot, it’s inaccessible, it’s complicated… and it’s expensive.
In this concise account, we get a glimpse of the unwavering efforts of Alex and the Fair Future Foundation, always at the forefront, striving to provide water, healthcare, and, above all, hope to the most vulnerable. It reminds us that even in the most difficult landscapes, compassion and dedication can flourish, and that is where our hope lies – beneath the surface.
We sincerely thank you for supporting the #WaterConnections project on the Laindatang site during phases #2 and #3.
We wish you a beautiful day wherever you are. Remember to take care of yourself and everyone you love. It is the most important.
Alex – Fair Future Foundation – 20.01.2024, Rumah Kambera.
