Following nine months of failed drilling, we've constructed a 114 m³ reservoir in Laindatang, which is entirely powered by rainwater. Almost 300 villagers, predominantly children, now have access to clean water. The project kicked off in June and is now complete. Together, we can bring an end to the water crisis.
Latest from the Field
Alex
About this author: Alex Wettstein - Founder, President, and Director of Socio-Medical Activities at Fair Future Foundation - Alex Wettstein is the key figure leading the Fair Future Foundation, a Swiss medical nonprofit transforming lives in the remote areas of Southeast Asia. Growing up in Switzerland after being born in France, Alex was inspired to pursue humanitarian work by his father, Axel Kahn—a renowned physician and geneticist. This blend of compassion and scientific influence fueled Alex's dedication to enhancing people's well-being. More than 15 years ago, Alex established the Fair Future Foundation with a focused mission to tackle significant gaps in healthcare, education, and access to clean water in underserved communities. For over twenty years, he has lived and worked in Indonesia, deeply engaging with the challenges faced by these remote areas. His leadership goes beyond strategic planning; it involves active participation in medical and social operations to ensure each initiative is both effective and responsive. Under Alex's leadership, the foundation has provided clean water to tens of thousands of people, constructed schools and healthcare facilities, and educated local communities in sustainable living practices. His innovative approach features the integration of solar power and advanced technologies such as solar water pumps, replacing polluting diesel generators used in water drilling projects. Alex has been a leading advocate in combating infectious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, tuberculosis, and those related to inadequate sanitation. He focuses on prevention and sustainable solutions that enable communities to become self-reliant and resilient. As a distinguished figure in humanitarian work, Alex was recently honored with the Paul Harris Fellow Recognition by Rotary International for his significant contributions. Furthermore, Fair Future's documentary "Matawai: Shades of Water" debuted in the remote village of Mbinudita, highlighting the pressing water crises faced by these communities and bringing global awareness to their challenges. Alex's life is characterized by action, innovation, and empathy. Through his relentless work with the Fair Future Foundation, he has transformed countless lives and built a legacy of compassion and lasting change. His vision inspires those around him, demonstrating that meaningful impact starts with unwavering dedication and a desire to improve the world.
Primary Medical Care Training, day #1
Water Connections, clean water (almost) everywhere now.
Work in the rice fields in Mbinudita
Aimere, the Truck of Life is ready to board for Waingapu
Port d'Aimere, Flores Nusa Tenggara Timur. After more than five days on the road, the Truck of Life, loaded like a real truck, is ready to embark for Waingapu. The last ferry out of five that we have already taken throughout this journey will take us to the foundation's medico-social base camp, Rumah Kambera, in East Sumba. The crossing between Forès and Sumba will take over eight hours in extreme conditions. From tomorrow, we will be working with the poorest families in Indonesia in the framework of the project of primary medical care for children in rural areas and medical care for malaria victims, which is raging here.
A 9-year-old child needs surgery quickly
This little boy’s name is Assaria, he’s nine years old. He has severe 3rd-degree burns to over 24% of his body and requires surgical attention. He is not well, and we have to find a solution together. He can barely walk because of terrible burns to his legs and back. The consequences while growing up are significant circulatory and neurological problems. If nothing is done, he risks a double amputation. Let’s help him get surgery for severe burns on both legs before his health deteriorates.
First aid kits are being prepared here in Sumba
What the foundation is setting up is innovative and ingenious and cannot be done without the help of nearly a hundred teachers from the poorest and rural areas of East Sumba. And yes, teachers, like everywhere in the world, are the most influential people in the villages.
During these three or four training days, they will learn how to treat a wound and give first aid to an injured or sick child so that his situation does not worsen and becomes much more severe. But also, above all, determining when to call a doctor or go to the nearest medical centre.
Kawan Sehat book is finished and printed
A simple picture is that of the book "Kawan Sehat", which means "the healthy friend", on which Kawan Baik and Fair Future have been working for a few months. We are happy because the book is now finished, printed and ready to be loaded into the Truck of Life, which will leave tomorrow evening (08.12.22) for a five-day journey towards our Rumah Kambera Base Camp.
As a reminder, this book features three characters around the themes of a healthier life, how not to get sick, avoid injuries, and everyday sores. It is aimed at children from the ultra-rural regions of eastern Indonesia, where we work. It is one of the tools set up as part of the program for access to primary medical care intended for children in ultra-peripheral regions.
We invite you to get to know "Kawan Sehat" in .PDF format, in its latest version, by clicking on this link. Happy reading, Kawan.
Primary medical care for rural kids
Residents of rural villages do not have access to primary care, and most medical centres are often several hours' walk away. The harshness of life here means that we are often injured, but nothing is available to treat us – no doctor, knowledge, medical equipment and, of course, no antiseptic or medicine.
These injuries can lead to the death of a child or an adult if they get worse. We must therefore act quickly. Fair Future has for years empowered schools and families in ultra-rural communities to take action in the event of an accident.
Today, we are taking a new step in this program.
We need anti-malaria drugs!
Fair Future issues an intense red alert linked to the case of malaria, which is reaching a critical level here in East Sumba, Indonesia. For weeks, thousands of malaria cases have been recorded here in East Sumba. This figure is nevertheless to be taken conditionally because, in many villages, people do not have an identity card or a family book or do not have access to medical care, so they are sick in silence.
A child looks at the water flowing from a pipe
This photograph was taken by Kawan Elthon, at the end of November 2022, at one of the Water Connections project sites. It features a child from Mbinudita, a small village in eastern Sumba that does not have water access (or not yet, but soon). When he wants water, he has to walk for hours and bring one or two five-litre jerry cans, which he often fills with dirty water. He is, therefore, often ill and hires so many people here.
But there, while Fair Future and Kawan Baik are building new toilets, the clean and present water is flowing from one of the thirty tanks of more than 6,000 litres that we have built.
It's magical to see this kid staring at water flowing from a pipe for the first time in his life. I find it brilliant. It gives me the strength to continue in what we are doing.
Do you have medical equipment or clothes?
Extract and Description of this short News | As part of the departure of the Truck of Life – week #2 of December 2022 – for Sumba East and our Medical-Social Base Camp, we still have a little space available to load equipment such as Medical equipment, medicines and clothes for children and newborns that you no longer use. You can bring all of this to us at the foundation headquarters (see the link here to find us in Denpasar). Here is a list of medicines and other materials you need to bring to Rumah Baik, Denpasar Selatan. Thank you very much for your support Kawan,