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.
