SolarBuddy lamps Matawai Kurang protect lungs and extend safe study time
Clean solar light replaces kerosene so children can learn at night
In the remote village of Matawai Kurang, just three hours from the nearest town along challenging tracks, a transformative change is happening. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Swiss Fair Future Foundation and Kawan Baik Indonesia, teachers and students at the local SD and SMP schools have successfully assembled 112 SolarBuddy lamps, enabling continued study sessions even after sunset.
This clean light is not just an educational breakthrough — it’s a significant medical triumph. By replacing smoky kerosene lamps, we dramatically reduce the risks of burns and fires. Additionally, students can now study without the hindrance of cough and eye strain, offering relief for those with asthma from nightly irritants. Each student gained skills in charging the lamps using full sunlight and safely placing them for optimal eye health. Teachers, too, received these lamps to facilitate evening lessons and support homework sessions, ensuring a consistent educational environment.
As part of this initiative, children enjoyed opening letters from Australian students who helped build the lamps, fostering a sense of dignity and global connection. To address ongoing water challenges, prevention sessions highlighted the link between clean light, improved indoor air quality, and healthy daily routines. Anchored by Swiss precision and enriched by sixteen years of on-ground expertise, these efforts, alongside local leadership, ensure long-lasting benefits.
When smoke clears and light remains steady, healthier lungs accompany brighter learning opportunities. Let’s continue this momentum! Join us in spreading clean energy and health.
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 29th of October, 2025
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