From April 17 to 24, members of Rotary Club Australia visited East Sumba to witness Fair Future’s crucial efforts for clean water, sanitation, and fighting infectious diseases.
Five members of the Rotary Club Australia – Mandi, Bridget, John, Adrian, and Peter – joined the visit.
Their goal was to discover Fair Future’s work, see the achievements made possible thanks to their support and that of their donors, and discuss future projects in other villages for access to medical care, clean water, and sanitation.
These Rotarians showed great courage and determination, accompanying us to areas that are extremely difficult to access, where life is often harsh. They visited several sites and villages where Fair Future works on crucial actions for clean water, adequate sanitation, and fighting endemic diseases such as malaria, polio, tuberculosis, dengue, and dysentery.
Together, we travelled to the remote rural areas of Lapinu and Laindatang, as well as Mahu, Lulundilu, Haray and Hambarita. We met the Regent of Sumba Timur Khris Praing at Rumah Kambera, our base camp. In addition, two days of training by our field teams were dedicated to hygiene training, hand washing and healthy eating for children and adults in Laindatang and Hambarita.
They saw the reality of extreme poverty, where hundreds live well below the poverty line, with little access to clean water and sanitation. They witnessed the extent of malnutrition and the prevalence of infectious diseases. In Lapinu and Hambarita, we plan to develop #WaterConnections projects with them for sustainable clean water access.
Mandi, Bridget, John, Adrian, and Peter saw the significant impact of our work and our ambitious projects. In Laindatang, their support helped the #WaterConnections and #ZeroMalaria programs make remarkable progress over 18 months. They interacted with teachers, children, and villagers, learning about their daily challenges.
The courage and dedication of our Rotary friends in supporting our clean water and health initiatives in Sumba exemplify the power of collaboration to transform lives.” – Alex Wettstein, CEO and Founder of Fair Future.
They observed how we provide medical care, monitor children’s growth, and build healthy sanitation facilities. They saw our efforts to drill deep wells and install water distribution systems for families.
Their visit wasn’t just about observation. They actively participated in our projects, teaching children and parents about healthy eating and living. Together, we distributed 200 SolarBuddy solar lights to children, providing light to some of the 65% of the local population living without electricity in places like Wairara, Haray, and Lahiru.
This week was full of emotions and activities. Fair Future thanks Rotary International, especially John Kevan, who visited us for the second time. Their commitment and support were remarkable and deeply appreciated by our team. We look forward to welcoming them again in December 2024.
Share these moments with us through a gallery of 150 photos, showcasing this valuable collaboration with the Rotary and our efforts to improve the lives of East Sumba communities.
Look at these images to see the beauty and impact of our work over the past three months.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The 15th of May 2024
Spending a whole week in East Sumba with five Rotarians from Rotary Australia.
They had the opportunity to meet with communities living in the most rural regions and the political authorities of the East Sumba region. This experience gave them a good understanding of the daily challenges the local population faces.
From April 17 to 24, we welcomed five members of Rotary Club Australia: Mandi, Bridget, John, Adrian, and Peter. Their visit aimed to see our work in the field and the achievements made possible by their support and that of our donors. These Rotarians courageously joined us in remote, harsh areas to witness our efforts for clean water access, sanitation, and the fight against diseases like malaria, polio, tuberculosis, dengue, and dysentery. We visited villages like Lapinu, Laindatang, Lambanapu, Mahu, Haray, and Hambarita and met with Sumba Timur Regent Khris Praing.
They saw the reality of extreme poverty, malnutrition, and infectious diseases. In Lapinu and Hambarita, we plan to develop #WaterConnections projects for sustainable clean water access. In Laindatang, their support has significantly advanced the #WaterConnections and #ZeroMalaria programs after 18 months of work. The Rotarians observed our medical care, child growth monitoring, and sanitation projects and actively participated by teaching healthy living principles. Together, we distributed 200 SolarBuddy solar lights to children in areas without electricity, like Wairara, Haray, and Lahiru.
Fair Future sincerely thanks Rotary International, especially John Kevan, for their remarkable support. We look forward to their return next December. We invite you to explore these moments through a gallery of 230 photos, showcasing this valuable collaboration and our ongoing efforts to improve lives in East Sumba.
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 15th of May 2024
