Water Connections, September 2022, Mbinudita, East Sumba.

The work continues with the continuation of this beautiful “Water Connections” program with the building of the new Ferro-Cement water tank.

On the menu for the next few weeks: The construction of eight drinking water storage tanks and four new sanitary facilities, each comprising two toilets, a shower, a washing point and a filtration system and a deep well drilling, as well as the connections between all these installations.

This part of the Water Connections project benefits 94 families, i.e. around 550 people (most of them children), who have not had access to a source of clean water or toilets so far in their life.

As these few images show, we also often do a job at night because enthusiasm makes us forget what time it is.

This is thanks to the water we will seek deep in the ground by conducting second deep drilling. Drilling that we will do, if possible, before the start of the rainy season, in October if all goes well. All these facilities are connected by more than 2000 meters of pipes buried in the ground.

If all goes well, if everything goes according to schedule, this project at the Mbinudita site will be completed next December.

These facilities allow families to live healthier and more hygienic life. This improvement decreases the exposure to diseases caused by unclean water or the fact that there were no toilets before. Access to clean water greatly reduces the number of water-related illnesses here in Sumba, especially among children… Which, again, we see month after month here in the field.

Once the tanks are finished, they must be painted. When there are several of us, it takes a good hour for the Kawan Baik Indonesia and Fair Future Foundation team, with all villagers’ help. We also plan to do frescoes or paint on these massive constructions, like some situations of the lives of people here or the benefits of clean /safe water in the lives of families.

On this subject, your ideas are welcome, do not hesitate to let us know by sending us a message here.

But so far, the work is going well apart from the heat, which is completely stifling; it is difficult to bear. It is difficult, if not impossible, to work in direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. We must hydrate ourselves as well as possible for our teams on site. It means for all of us to drink a lot and as regularly as possible, rest from time to time, and take advantage of the shade of a tree or a house.

We are only here for a while, and the working or living conditions are the same for everyone. It makes us realize even more how complicated and complex life is here for the families who live here. Water is far too scarce for all of them, and eating healthy when you don’t have water is an impossible challenge to achieve daily.

Access to better health has always been Fair Future’s primary mission, and healing people simply by giving them clean water is impressive. It’s part of our dream, and we want to continue in that direction. On a small scale, we try to give less chemistry or medication but more clean water and, like a magic trick, it works!

We wish you a beautiful day wherever you are. Remember to take care of yourself and everyone you love. It is the most important. Rumah Kambera, the 27.09.2022/aw