[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#111111″ background_enable_color=”on” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” width__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fairfuturefoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/east-sumba-children-kerbau-water-collection.jpg” alt=”Three children sit on a water buffalo carrying jerrycans as a woman leads it past a rural house in East Sumba.” title_text=”Children on a Water Buffalo Collecting Water in East Sumba” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ border_radii=”on|4px|4px|4px|4px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Photo caption and enlargement note” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#D6D6D6″ text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.45em” text_orientation=”left” custom_margin=”10px||22px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” text_orientation_tablet=”left” text_orientation_phone=”left” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Three children ride a kerbau carrying reused jerrycans as their mother leads it to collect water in East Sumba.<\/p>\n
Photograph in 1920 \u00d7 1080 format. Click the image to view it at full size.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Picture of the Day – Kerbau water journey” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”a9f9db81-700d-4f32-ab60-12f4699a1a92″ text_orientation=”left” text_orientation_tablet=”left” text_orientation_phone=”left” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element=”text-align: left !important;” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
This new Photo of the Day<\/a> shows three children on a kerbau while their mother leads it to fetch water. The buffalo is part of our life here. These five-litre jerrycans once held cooking oil and were collected second-hand. Water scarcity in East Sumba makes this a daily journey for families without a motorbike or a usable route. The kerbau carries the children and the containers.<\/p>\n In my work, I estimate that some families we meet have around two litres per person per day for drinking, cooking and all washing combined. At that level, meeting basic drinking and food needs leaves very little for hands, bodies, clothes or menstrual hygiene. Our teams regularly meet people who, in the most difficult conditions, can bathe only once a month, using a small amount of water without running water. Collecting it can take hours. Some families leave in the evening and return the next morning, unsure whether they will find water. Water scarcity in East Sumba makes basic daily hygiene difficult for the families we meet.<\/p>\n Today, 15 October, is Global Handwashing Day<\/a>. Our article on handwashing with soap<\/a> connects water, soap and practical learning. Unsafe water and inadequate washing facilities increase infection risks, affecting child health and nutrition<\/a>. Scarcity also affects safe food preparation, menstrual hygiene, and dignity, while collection takes time away from childhood, learning, and rest. Through Water Connections<\/a>, we work with communities to bring safer water closer to daily life. Primary Medical Care<\/a> links this work with local health agents, early care and prevention. For me, water belongs in the same conversation as medicine. Families need enough to drink, prepare food safely, wash and manage menstruation with privacy.<\/p>\n 15 October 2026 | Alex Wettstein<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][dsm_text_divider header=”External Links” admin_label=”5. Title: External Links” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”21536528-39cb-48dd-9e70-e5a08f7ac11f” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/dsm_text_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Verified external resources” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”a9f9db81-700d-4f32-ab60-12f4699a1a92″ text_orientation=”left” custom_css_main_element=”text-align: left !important;” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_text=”Understand this water journey” admin_label=”Pop-Up Button – Kerbau water journey” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”ea06e631-5eb7-48fe-b975-7d01a636427d” custom_margin=”2vh||||false|false” dsm_modules_popup=”on” dsm_modules_popup_library=”25128263″ dsm_modules_popup_width=”25%” dsm_modules_close_icon_color=”#111111″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” dsm_modules_popup_width_tablet=”65%” dsm_modules_popup_width_phone=”95%” dsm_modules_popup_width_last_edited=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Drei Kinder reiten einen Kerbau, w\u00e4hrend ihre Mutter ihn zum Sammeln von Wasser in Ost-Sumba f\u00fchrt. Alex reflektiert \u00fcber die begrenzten Mengen, die einige Familien erhalten k\u00f6nnen, \u00fcber das Baden ohne Leitungswasser und \u00fcber die Bedeutung zuverl\u00e4ssiger Wasserversorgung f\u00fcr Gesundheit, Hygiene, die W\u00fcrde der Menstruation und das allt\u00e4gliche Leben als Kind.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":179,"featured_media":25128265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1223,286,307],"tags":[450,1436,1671,1149,449,926,1584,981],"class_list":["post-25128261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-picture-of-the-day","category-water-connections","category-water-shortages","tag-child-health","tag-east-sumba","tag-handwashing","tag-menstrual-dignity","tag-primary-medical-care","tag-water-access","tag-water-connections","tag-water-scarcity"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tEast Sumba water scarcity and daily health<\/h2>\n
Water, hygiene and care close to home<\/h2>\n
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