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Clean water and sanitary facilities

Laindatang’s Water Crisis: A Lifesaving Initiative

Laindatang’s Water Crisis: A Lifesaving Initiative

This new “Picture of the Day” shows you Pak Kudu Huring, who leaves early in the morning to fetch a few litres of water from his house, which is too far from his village of Laindatang. He carries with him nearly ten Jerry cans on his shoulder; he walks quickly, and it isn’t easy to follow him. He makes this trip once or twice a day. He will have to walk several hours to return home with water to drink, eat, and water the animals…

Finding water is a big challenge in extremely rural eastern Sumba villages like Laindatang, finding clean water is a daily challenge. Residents have to venture miles to collect it and often find themselves with resources unfit for consumption. This situation further exposes their society to serious health risks, such as Malaria, Polio, diarrheal diseases, typhoid fever, dysenteric infections, and parasitic diseases, often attributed to the consumption of contaminated water, which aggravates cases of malnutrition while increasing infant mortality rates.

The Water Connections project in Laindatang, which Fair Future initiated, is appropriate for this situation. Drinking water points have been installed near homes, considerably reducing the distances travelled to fetch water. We guarantee a constant supply of clean water through deep drilling and installation of pumps, tanks, and filtration systems, ensuring high-quality standards are met.

In addition to providing water, our project also organizes educational sessions on hygiene and water management that aim to raise awareness of sanitation practices among residents. The program emphasizes the importance of washing hands with soap, saving water efficiently, and maintaining good personal hygiene to prevent infections – all of which villagers learn during the course of these information sessions.

The effects of Water Connections are already evident, as the reduction in illnesses associated with contaminated water improves the community’s overall well-being. With healthier children attending school more regularly, their educational opportunities and future prospects become more promising. Additionally, adults with fewer health problems tend to be more productive and help drive economic growth in the village.

In Laindatang, there is constant change. The female population, who generally bear the burden of water collection tasks, now have more time to devote to other educational or productive activities. With access to uncontaminated watering systems and thriving vegetable gardens in communal gardens, families can supplement their income while having more excellent nutritional resources within their reach.

Our efforts to address the water crisis in Laindatang go far beyond providing clean water. We are making significant progress toward improving health care and education outcomes and spurring economic growth in local communities.

Through this project, we aim to give villagers long-term solutions that will enable them to create a better future for themselves and their families. Our unwavering commitment to transforming disadvantaged regions is reflected in our commitment to ensuring access to vital resources such as clean water.

Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The 15th of July 2024.

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Bringing Clean Water and Health Education to Rural Areas

Bringing Clean Water and Health Education to Rural Areas

In ultra-rural villages where access is challenging, Fair Future brings clean water and vital health education. The dedicated teams teach residents and school staff about hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention. This #WaterConnections project benefits nearly 800 people, including 60% children, highlighting the transformative power of clean water and education.

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Join Us for Clean Water Awareness Event on June 14

Join Us for Clean Water Awareness Event on June 14

Save the date! Join us on June 14, 2024, at Kulidan Space near Denpasar to celebrate Fair Future Foundation’s 15th anniversary. Our clean water awareness event includes the screening of ‘Matawai, the Shades of Water,’ discussions on sustainable water solutions, and artistic performances. Let’s raise awareness and support for clean water access in rural Indonesia. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to make a difference!

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Clean Water Brings Health and Happiness to Rural Areas

Clean Water Brings Health and Happiness to Rural Areas

The Water Connections project by the Fair Future Foundation is transforming life in Laindatang, East Sumba. By providing clean water to 600 residents, including nearly 100 schoolchildren, we are not only improving hygiene and reducing the risk of diseases like malaria, polio, and tuberculosis, but also teaching sustainable living practices. Our dietitian’s efforts to promote healthy eating and our educational initiatives on hygiene are empowering this extremely rural community to thrive. Support our mission to create a healthier future for all.

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Premiere of Matawai: Water Crisis in East Sumba

Premiere of Matawai: Water Crisis in East Sumba

Join us on May 8 for the YouTube premiere of ‘Matawai: The Shade of Water’. Directed by Indira Larin, this 15-minute documentary unveils the acute water crises facing East Sumba’s communities and the life-changing impacts of the #WaterConnections program. Discover how we are tackling the essential need for clean water and fighting diseases like malaria through innovative solutions.

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Four Pillars for a Healthier Life in Ultra-Rural Areas

Four Pillars for a Healthier Life in Ultra-Rural Areas

Four Pillars for Healthy Living” serves as Fair Future’s guide for ultra-rural communities, emphasizing balanced lifestyle pillars: physical activity, nutrition, hygiene, and rest. This guide encourages daily exercise, a diet rich in fresh foods, regular washing with soap and water, and adequate rest for mental and physical health, aiming to enhance individual and community well-being.

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Healthy Eating: Transform Lives with Nourishing Food

Healthy Eating: Transform Lives with Nourishing Food

Fill Your Plate with Healthy Food” is an initiative by Fair Future Foundation aimed at enhancing health in ultra-rural areas. This educational poster, designed as a food pyramid, highlights the importance of balanced nutrition with locally sourced foods. It serves as an interactive tool to encourage communities to adopt healthier eating habits, thereby reducing diet-related diseases and improving children’s focus, while promoting sustainable dietary practices

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Drilling in Laindatang: Overcoming the Harshest Conditions

Drilling in Laindatang: Overcoming the Harshest Conditions

Behold the new “Picture of the Day”, showcasing the 8-inch borehole being drilled in Laindatang, one of the driest regions in the world. This demanding and logistically complicated work presents numerous technical challenges. However, our motivation is unwavering, as the livelihood of an ultra-rural village community without access to clean water hinges on our success.

The #WaterConnections project in the village of Laindatang is both a significant technical challenge and a demonstration of human ingenuity in the face of natural adversities. This project aims to drill a deep well in one of the world’s driest regions of East Sumba and the world. We are the first to attempt a deep borehole here, and the logistical challenges are immense.

Transporting our own drilling machine, weighing around six tonnes, to terrain that is not easy to access even for the #TruckofLife, demonstrates the team’s exceptional determination and adaptability. The process was quite an adventure, which you can watch in this short film on YouTube.

Using rainwater for drilling by creating a mini artificial lake and a dam made of earth and branches is an innovative and ecological solution that highlights our commitment to overcoming obstacles while preserving the environment. Managing the water required for drilling, approximately 10,000 litres per day, without depleting already limited local resources, demonstrates careful planning and execution.

We encountered some challenges along the way. There was a landslide at the beginning of the borehole, and then another one a few days ago. However, the project was able to continue thanks to land stabilization measures. These technical interventions show a careful approach to unexpected situations, ensuring the safety and success of the well. We have published a gallery of images related to the drilling, and we recommend you take a look here.

This drilling project represents more than a technical endeavour; it catalyzes change, offering crucial access to clean water for the Laindatang community. Access to water is essential for improving residents’ health, nutrition, and hygiene.

We anticipate that the drilling will be finished by the end of April, which means there’s about another month of work left. This aligns with our initial estimate of two to four months of drilling work. Fair Future and Kawan Baik are not only involved in the physical aspects of the project but are also preparing the community to make the most of this valuable resource. The training modules scheduled for mid-April are crucial to ensure that the water brings lasting benefits in terms of improved nutrition, good hygiene, and better health access.

This drilling project is truly a once-in-a-lifetime endeavour. I want to express my gratitude to all of you because what we are attempting to accomplish here is remarkable. Each contribution brings us closer to turning this dream into a reality and providing water and hope to a community in desperate need.

Together, we confront adversity with resilience and innovation, demonstrating that no challenge is insurmountable when we unite for a brighter future. Your generosity transforms lives and establishes a legacy of health and prosperity for future generations.

Link:
We recommend you take a look at this gallery of images related to how we bring the drilling machine on-site;
Some short films on YouTube about drilling here in Laindatang.

Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The 28th of March 2024

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