In this photo, Alex is seen teaching health workers who are participating in the #PrimaryMedicalCare program how to take blood pressure, interpret it, and provide appropriate medical treatment to reduce it. Since there are no medical centres close to the villages, all the measures taken in this program have proven to be life-saving.

Greetings, it’s Alex Wettstein speaking to you from East Sumba.

How are you today? I hope you’re well, but let’s shift our gaze for a moment to the immediate realities of others who aren’t as fortunate.

Here in the remote villages of East Sumba, tranquility is a foreign concept. Imagine the stillness of the night disrupted by moans of agony—moans stemming from merciless battles against malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, and polio. Interspersed are cries of hunger and thirst. And, far too often, the silence that follows is the hush of a life extinguished.

This isn’t a dark screenplay but a relentless, heart-rending reality that afflicts tens of thousands of our fellow humans. As the Founder of the Fair Future, I’m compelled to break this oppressive silence. And I choose to do so not with rehearsed platitudes but with a deep-seated, unapologetic urgency.

Take, for example, our #ZeroMalaria program. It’s a torch we carry into the abyss, illuminating the path for other programs that combat infectious diseases. I’m both grateful and exasperated to inform you about the availability of our interim report on this program. I urge you not to just skim through it but to engage deeply. Analyze it. Share it. What you’ll be sharing isn’t just data but a living struggle—a struggle that sustains hundreds of thousands of families in some of the most neglected parts of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Perhaps you’re questioning why, despite a dedicated team of more than a hundred professionals and volunteers, the ailments persist. The reality is that diseases like malaria don’t evaporate overnight. We advance one home at a time, engaging with each individual, educating communities, and building preventative measures to curtail the spread.

Each life preserved stands as a hard-fought victory, while each loss marks a profound, personal defeat. I find it intolerable to witness children, expectant mothers, and the elderly surrender to preventable illnesses simply because they lack basic medical resources. It’s a human tragedy that keeps unfolding—pregnant women experiencing complications, children succumbing to malnourishment, elders battling chronic conditions—all due to glaring lapses in healthcare infrastructure, sanitation, and access to clean water.

Amid these harsh circumstances, the men and women of Fair Future, a majority of whom volunteer their time, display extraordinary courage and professionalism. Their dedication is ceaseless, but what fuels their endeavor should be more than just applause. Tangible, financial support is what can turn the tide against these diseases.

And yet, we stand alone. We are a small Swiss foundation in one of the world’s most impoverished regions, where even the soil mirrors the dry, neglected landscapes of Africa. Despite our open invitations to larger organizations and authorities, the resounding silence is both perplexing and disappointing. Where are UNICEF? WHO? Where are the millions in resources that are allegedly deployed to tackle these issues?

We’re active in areas that rarely make headlines—places like Mahu, Lahiuru, Laindatang, Lulundilo, Haray, Mbinudita—yet are brimming with urgent needs. While social media campaigns may raise awareness, they can’t replace the immediate, on-the-ground interventions that are critical to alleviating this ongoing humanitarian crisis.

February 2024 marks our 15th year in this mission, and while I’m grateful for the progress we’ve made, the path ahead remains fraught with obstacles. There are times when the hardships appear insurmountable, but then I think of the families we serve. Their eyes brimming with desperation yet tinged with hope become my renewed mandate.

You should know that each donation you make goes directly to the heart of these issues—almost 93% of contributions go straight into medical projects. We operate with minimal administrative overhead, and each one of us, including myself, works from the ground up, alongside those we’re helping.

This is not merely about funding; it’s about meaningful impact. Our needs range from essential medicines to advanced lab equipment and logistical assistance, ensuring that healthcare reaches the most isolated regions.

So, with a sense of s I urge youhared humanity: Please, make a donation. It’s far more than a monetary transaction—it’s a commitment to equality in healthcare and, most importantly, a lifeline for someone in dire need.

Thank you for standing with us. I’m profoundly grateful for your presence alongside the hundreds of thousands of families who rely on Fair Future. Let’s forge ahead in this indispensable battle.

Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu, 17th of October, 2023