Water tanks bring clean water to ultra-rural families in isolated regions of Hambarita.

This new Photo of the Day shows one of the eight water reservoirs we are building in Hambarita, East Sumba. We’re nearly finished with the first unit—a 5,000-litre ferrocement tank—and construction on the next reservoirs has already begun. Over the next three months, eight tanks will be built, each supplying clean water to about 15 people. That’s nearly 150 people who will, for the first time, have access to water close to where they live.

In Hambarita, there are no roads, electricity, or healthcare access. Malaria, waterborne diseases, and malnutrition are among the highest. For children especially, the health risks tied to unclean water are serious: diarrhoea, dysentery, skin infections, dehydration, and even early mortality.

This large and bright blue reservoir represents health, protection, and a new beginning. It means people no longer need to walk kilometres to fetch water of questionable quality. It means fewer infections, better hygiene, and fewer cases of severe illness.

Each tank costs 2,200 Swiss francs, or approximately 2,460 USD. Six are already fully financed, looking for support to complete the last two.

But this project is more than infrastructure. It’s also.

We train the local community members to build these reservoirs with us, from mixing cement to setting moulds to waterproofing. They learn every step. In the future, they’ll be able to reproduce this work on their own, sustainably. This is how we move from emergency aid to long-term autonomy.

While this effort continues, a larger reservoir—110,000 litres—is planned nearby. When complete, it will complement these smaller tanks and guarantee a more stable supply for the region’s vulnerable families.

This is what we mean by Water = Life.
This reservoir in the photo is not just a container. It’s a tool for survival, dignity, and public health.

Thank you to everyone who supports this work. Thank you for giving others the chance to live healthier lives.

Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – June 11th, 2025

List of Related Organisations with Hyperlinks

• Water.org: Like Fair Future, Water.org helps underserved communities gain access to safe water and sanitation through local partnerships.

• WaterAid: Their work mirrors ours in providing clean water and hygiene education to the poorest, rural communities in the world.

• Charity Water: Supports clean water projects in areas without infrastructure, similar to Fair Future’s work in Sumba.

• Action Against Hunger: Combats malnutrition and illness caused by dirty water, just like our fieldwork, combining clean water with medical aid.

• Heifer International: Their rural development programs align with our strategy of training communities to build and maintain sustainable systems.

• BRAC: Trains rural populations in health and water access, like Fair Future’s education-based construction model in Hambarita.

• UNICEF WASH: Implements clean water and hygiene solutions to protect children, matching our child-focused health strategy in Sumba.

• PATH: Integrates water access and health technologies to fight diseases like malaria, supporting work similar to our #ZeroMalaria and Water Connections programs.