Fair Future is dramatically transforming lives in the village of Tanambanas, situated in the heart of Sumba Island, through our flagship initiative: the #WaterConnections project.
In this harsh terrain, where every drop of water is as precious as a diamond, our medical and technical teams are fully invested in making this essential mission a reality.
In a place where it seems as though three suns are scorching the sky of Tanambanas, hard work is the daily norm for the committed individuals on the ground. Due to extreme climatic conditions, our teams only operate during the less hostile hours, between 8:00 a.m. and noon and from 4:00 p.m. until late evening. This precaution is crucial to minimize the risks of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, hyperthermia, and dehydration—conditions that only exacerbate the existing healthcare challenges in a region already burdened by difficult living conditions.
Tanambanas is a village so deeply entrenched in a dry and barren environment that even deep drilling efforts fail to discover underground water. Faced with this hydraulic conundrum, innovation took shape in the form of a massive structure: the roof of the village church, covered by nearly 400 square meters of corrugated iron. This roof doesn’t merely serve as a shelter from the heat but also as a platform for collecting rainwater. This valuable liquid is then filtered and stored in two massive 10,000-liter tanks that we built in collaboration with the local community.
You only need to look at the images to understand this project’s living, ongoing process, which is a tangible manifestation of hope in this place. Faces light up at the prospect of soon having potable water, and our engaged teams are shown welding, cutting, connecting PVC pipes, and erecting metal towers—all demonstrating our collective commitment to ensuring this project belongs to everyone it will serve today and tomorrow.
We have erected two monumental reservoirs as receptacles and sanctuaries for every drop of filtered rainwater. For a population that waterborne diseases like dysentery and cholera have decimated, these tanks represent far more than mere structures; they stand as monuments dedicated to health, vitality, and hope.
The #WaterConnections project is a technical feat, but it also transcends material aspects to become profoundly human. It testifies to our resolve in developing viable and sustainable solutions for the vulnerable populations of this region. It proves that the implausible becomes tangible when hands unite collectively.
At Fair Future, our pride is measured by what we have already accomplished, but our passion lies in all that remains to be done. At every stage of the project, we are guided by our primary mission: to provide access to the vital necessities of life for those who are cruelly lacking them. In the arid territories of Sumba, that access begins with water—one drop at a time.
By supporting Fair Future, you are not just investing in a project; you are investing in the Future of a community, in reducing water-related diseases, and, most importantly, in hope. Thank you for believing in our cause, and above all, thank you for considering those we serve.
Thank you for being so supportive. Together, we are making a difference.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu, October 10th, 2023.
In the heart of Sumba, water is more than a resource—it’s the lifeline that threads the fabric of the community. Our #WaterConnections project does more than just hydrate; it empowers, heals, and elevates people’s lives, turning the implausible into the tangible. This is Fair Future at its core: transformational, innovative, and profoundly human.” —Alex Wettstein, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Fair Future
Bringing Clean Water to Tanambanas: #WaterConnections – Images taken by the Fair Future team
In TanaMbanas, a village in Central Sumba, Fair Future is igniting transformative change through its #WaterConnections project.
Harnessing rainwater via sustainable, community-focused strategies, we are fighting against waterborne diseases and rejuvenating hope in this vulnerable region.
In the heart of Central Sumba, Fair Future is relentlessly weaving threads of change, giving life to the #WaterConnections project. The land is parched, the earth thirsty, but a transformative undertaking unfolds here in this seemingly forsaken region. A mission rooted in the struggles and aspirations of a local community began with a spark of innovation in the dawn of January 2023. We are in Tanambanas, central Sumba.
Picture a village cradled in a landscape so unforgiving, so devoid of moisture, that even the most advanced drilling technologies return empty-handed. In this thirsty world, the conventional approach to water accessibility would fail. We had to reimagine our solution, and thus, a different form of innovation was born. The canvas for this ingenuity was none other than the roof of the local village church, a 400m2 structure made of corrugated iron.
As you navigate through the thirty vivid photographs, you are not merely observers; you become witnesses to an unfolding narrative of hope and communal endeavour. These images capture the soul of the project, featuring radiant faces buoyed by the realization that water—this most fundamental of life’s necessities—will no longer be a distant dream but a tangible reality. The village becomes a vibrant stage where our dedicated team members weld pipes, construct tanks, and work hand-in-hand with the community, signifying ownership that this project is as much theirs as ours.
“In TanaMbanas, each drop of water we collect is not just a drop; it’s a seed of change, a catalyst for a brighter, healthier future. Our #WaterConnections project empowers this community to move beyond the limitations of scarcity and disease. When we extend our hands in compassion, the realm of the possible becomes boundless.”
Two colossal water storage tanks have taken form, rising as mere receptacles and sanctified reservoirs that house every drop of filtered rainwater. For a population scarred by the devastating impacts of waterborne diseases like dysentery and cholera—ailments that have brought untold suffering and decimated families—these tanks are more than metallic structures; they are living monuments to health, vitality, and newfound optimism.
While this endeavour may appear as a marvel of engineering, its essence is resolutely human. Every bolt tightened and every litre collected reiterates our unyielding commitment to devising resilient and sustainable interventions for those on the margins of society. The narrative of this project confirms what we’ve always believed: when compassion extends its hands, the boundaries of what’s possible expand.
We at Fair Future are profoundly aware of our achievements but are simultaneously fueled by the enormity of what awaits our attention and resolve. Every moment spent advancing the #WaterConnections project reaffirms our foundational mission: bridging the gaping divides that deprive the most vulnerable among us of basic human needs. In the arid lands of Central Sumba, that mission begins by transforming each scarce drop into an ocean of possibility.
Thank you for entrusting us with your belief and, above all, for seeing the humanity in the lives we aim to uplift.
We cordially invite all captivated by this unfolding story to explore our photo gallery, witness this extraordinary effort, and further engage with our mission through our Instagram account.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The October 10th, 2023.
