SolarBuddy lamps in Mbatapuhu transform nights into safe study time for 114 families.
Clean light replaces kerosene smoke as teachers and children adopt safer habits.
In Mbatapuhu, East Sumba, our teams delivered and assembled 114 SolarBuddy lamps for a school and the surrounding households. Clean light now replaces kerosene in kitchens and study spaces. That means fewer burns, less smoke in children’s lungs, and more hours to read after sunset.
Alongside the distribution, we ran short health and safety sessions. Families learned to charge the lamps in full sunlight, to place them at an eye-safe height, and to care for the batteries so that each unit lasts for years. Teachers received several larger lamps for lesson preparation and to charge small devices, which helps classes start on time even during the dry season. Every unit was registered in the SolarBuddy App Tracker for maintenance, transparency, and future upgrades.
This work is more than lighting. Kerosene fumes are a known driver of cough, eye irritation, and poor sleep in rural homes. Replacing open flame with electric cuts exposure to fine PM2.5, reduces fire risk, and lowers daily fuel costs. The bright yellow transport boxes were not left behind. They are repurposed to store clean water or to collect rainwater, linking energy access with hygiene and handwashing.
The project combined the strengths of Fair Future and Kawan Baik, leveraging the commitment of teachers and parents. Field vehicles, inventories, and trained local staff made a precise delivery in a place without grid electricity. Small, durable tools do not solve every problem, yet they unlock safer nights, calmer lungs, and regular study time. In Mbatapuhu, the first evening after installation was simple. Lights came on, paths to latrines were easier to follow, homework reopened, and the village grew a little quieter as the smell of kerosene faded.
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 31st of October, 2025
Related Links
