We are providing clean water and promoting hygiene to preserve and enhance living conditions in ultra-rural communities.
The Fair Future Foundation’s revolutionary #WaterConnections initiative provides crucial handwashing stations and washbasins to extremely remote communities, lessening the spread of infectious diseases and preserving lives.
In the very remote regions of East Sumba, many people cannot afford clean water and proper sanitation. The Fair Future Foundation is working to change this through our #WaterConnections project. Our efforts to build washbasins and handwashing stations in these areas have been groundbreaking, as it is the first time such infrastructure has been implemented there.
The importance of handwashing cannot be overstated. Proper hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In regions where clean water is scarce, the construction of handwashing stations has provided a vital defence against illnesses such as diarrhoea, cholera, and respiratory infections, which claim countless lives each year, especially among children.
Our work in East Sumba includes installing multiple washbasins in schools and community centres. These facilities not only provide water but also serve as educational tools. We engage local communities in workshops on the importance of hand hygiene, ensuring that knowledge is passed down and practices are maintained.
One of our notable successes has been in the village of Laindatang, where our #WaterConnections project has brought clean water to over 600 people, including nearly 100 children at the local school. Introducing handwashing stations has drastically reduced the incidence of common infectious diseases. Among the most vulnerable, children now have a safer environment to learn and play.
Access to clean water and proper hygiene is not just a necessity, it’s a fundamental right. By empowering communities with these resources, we are fostering a healthier, brighter future for all.” — Alex Wettstein, CEO and Founder of Fair Future
These initiatives are closely tied to our #ZeroMalaria and #PrimaryMedicalCare programs. By reducing waterborne and hygiene-related diseases, we indirectly lower the risk of complications from malaria and other infectious diseases. Our medical teams can focus on preventive care and education rather than just treating illnesses after they occur.
The construction of these handwashing stations has also empowered the community. Local labour and materials are used wherever possible, providing economic benefits and fostering a sense of ownership among residents. This approach ensures the sustainability of the projects, as the community is invested in maintaining the facilities.
In Laindatang, where proper sanitation facilities were lacking, the introduction of handwashing stations has been revolutionary. The community, particularly the children, has embraced these changes with enthusiasm. Our continued education and infrastructure development efforts pave the way for a healthier future.
Fair Future remains committed to expanding these initiatives across more villages in East Sumba. We aim to ensure that every person has access to clean water and the means to maintain proper hygiene. Through our #WaterConnections, #ZeroMalaria, and #PrimaryMedicalCare programs, we are making strides towards a future where preventable diseases are a thing of the past.
The fight is far from over, but with each washbasin installed and each handwashed, we move closer to a healthier, more resilient community. Our work is a testament to the power of simple solutions in the battle against complex problems. Together, we can make clean water and proper sanitation a reality.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The 27th of May 2024
Transforming Health in East Sumba with Handwashing
In East Sumba, turning on a tap isn’t just about clean water; it’s a gateway to better health. The Fair Future Foundation’s #WaterConnections program is not just installing taps and teaching handwashing. It’s about transforming lives.
This initiative has brought unprecedented health education to children in Laindatang, teaching them vital hygiene practices that prevent disease and empower their communities. Witness the joy and pride as these children learn to wash their hands properly for the first time.
In East Sumba, Indonesia, access to clean water is a luxury that most villages cannot even imagine. In these communities, simple actions like turning on a tap or washing hands at a sink are foreign, unknown concepts. Against this backdrop, the Fair Future Foundation, marking its 15th anniversary, is ramping up its efforts in these regions left behind by progress.
A striking example of this reality unfolds in the village of Laindatang. Here, 76 children from the ultra-rural school are learning the basics of hygiene—a concept alien to them. The foundation has undertaken to teach them why and how to wash their hands—a fundamental skill to prevent diseases in a region where infections are rampant.
The program starts with theoretical education on modes of contamination, diseases linked to poor hygiene, and the importance of handwashing. Through role-playing, explanations on a time-worn whiteboard, and local-language publications, our volunteers are committed to teaching these children how to preserve their health and that of their loved ones.
Practically, it’s an almost magical scene that unfolds in Laindatang: for the first time, these children turn on a faucet. They watch in wonder as clean water flows, splash each other, wet their hands, and learn to soap them properly under the watchful supervision of our volunteers. With eight new sinks installed thanks to the #WaterConnections program, they discover the feeling of soap, learn how to rub their hands together, and then dry them properly.
These children proudly show that they can adopt these hygiene practices despite their isolation. They demonstrate to their community that access to hygiene is possible and that it changes not only their daily lives but also the health prospects of their village. This transformation touches every family and every child—a breath of hope and health in a world where every small victory is tremendously significant.
This action by the Fair Future Foundation is not just an intervention; it’s a daily revolution in the habits and health of entire communities, proving once again that even the simplest gestures can be robust vectors of change.
We cordially invite all captivated by this 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 24th of May, 2024.
