A Massive Humanitarian Mission to Deliver Medical Aid, Water, and Solar Energy to Sumba
Bringing Healthcare, Clean Water, and Sustainable Energy to Ultra-Rural Communities
Delivering medical care, water access, and solar energy to isolated communities in Sumba.
It’s almost unbelievable, but next Saturday, March 9th, Ino and I are returning to Sumba.
We’ll be taking nearly three tons of supplies with us once again in the Truck n’Load. Three tons! It sounds like we’re embarking on a mission to colonize Mars rather than just setting off down seemingly endless roads in our supply-laden truck.
This mission goes beyond merely delivering supplies; it is about sustaining our existing achievements, initiating new programs, building infrastructure, and inviting more people to join this remarkable journey. We are privileged to host John Kevan from Rotary International on Sumba Island from March 16th to 21st, where he will experience firsthand the impact of the SolarBuddy program alongside our water and medical initiatives.
We will also have volunteers with us, contributing their time and effort to create a meaningful impact. The Kawan Sehat health agents are set to undergo training to enhance healthcare in the most remote villages.
Additionally, our latest series of awareness posters addressing smoking, alcohol abuse, and waste management is ready to be distributed across schools in East Sumba as part of our health prevention campaigns—delivering crucial education to the younger generation.
So, what are we bringing this time? Buckle up:
- Our friend Marc from Smart Energy Tech generously donated sixteen solar panels.
- Three hundred twenty long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets—that’s 650 kilos of protection against mosquito bites (see article).
- A mountain of medicines, because thousands rely on them for survival, especially within the Primary Medical Care program.
- Medical equipment—stethoscopes, bandages, supplies for the Truck of Life, plus spare parts.
- We brought pumps and a 1,000-liter water tank because water is still a daily struggle in Sumba. People don’t have access to it, so we bring it. A thousand liters is a start.
- Steel shelves to store 2,224 SolarBuddy lamps and medical supplies.
- Clothing, and over a dozen boxes filled with donations for children and adults from all over.
- Recycling bins! Yes, we’re stepping up waste management at Rumah Kambera. We’re not just here to treat people—we’re here to build something better, something sustainable (see article).
- And everything else: food, vitamins, essential nutrients, personal items, and, of course, everything we need to share our journey with you.
Delivering medical care, water access, and solar energy to isolated communities in Sumba.
The Road Ahead
But before we even reach Sumba, we’ll need patience—first, 18 hours of overnight driving to Surabaya, then a long wait at Tanjung Perak port. Crossing East Java from Banyuwangi is an adventure in itself. Then, a three-day ferry journey with stops in Lombok before finally reaching Waingapu, Sumba. From there, it’s off to Rumah Kambera, our socio-medical base camp. We make this trip 3 to 4 times a year, sometimes with the Truck of Life, but we’re using the Truck N’ Load this time.
And After That?
A whole new adventure begins. There’s work to do, a packed schedule, and massive challenges ahead:
Building a new storage facility—a critical space for medical supplies and 2,224 SolarBuddy lamps that will bring light to thousands of children without electricity. Constructing seven ferrocement water reservoirs (5,000 liters each) will finally provide clean water to all the villages in the Mbatakapidu region. Coordinating our biggest water project yet—a 110 m³ water reservoir with a rainwater collection system. Yes, 110 m³! This building is a “première” for Fair Future—a massive regional project without water, roads, or electricity. But we’re used to these conditions.
Delivering medical care, water access, and solar energy to isolated communities in Sumba.
Delivering medical care, water access, and solar energy to isolated communities in Sumba.
And then comes an even more significant challenge:
An even more significant challenge is the study of malaria on a large scale. For a month, we will concentrate our efforts on Umalulu, a region where malaria is endemic and therefore ever-present. Four hundred houses are scattered over twenty kilometres, home to nine hundred ultra-rural inhabitants who live in extreme poverty. It is a village without roads and access to healthcare. We cannot simply distribute a few medications and hope for improvement there. We must thoroughly understand the development of malaria and analyse it to establish a sustainable strategy. This study is unprecedented in the region and represents our immense responsibility. See the Google map here.
Ongoing Work
Of course, we are also continuing our daily work: the Primary Medical Care program, which provides care and medication to isolated populations. Tons of medication, advice, and information will be distributed. In March, we will also distribute our new prevention posters on alcoholism, smoking, and waste management and, in May, the new campaign on STDs—campaigns that will last for years and that start tomorrow.
And then in April, there will be a new three-day training for Kawan Sehat Health Agents. Because they too must always learn, improve, and adapt to the challenges on the ground.
The Journey Begins
So, this Saturday marks the start of a five-day journey to Sumba: 24 hours on the road, 3 days at sea, and a mission that will last until September or even October 2025. I’ve been doing this for 16 years, yet every time, I feel the same: a spark of excitement, a rush of impatience, and, above all, an overwhelming sense of gratitude. None of this would be possible without you. Thank you. Truly.
Thank you for reading us. Today, March, the 6th, 2025 – Alex Wettstein
List of Related Organizations with Hyperlinks
- Last Mile Health – Like Fair Future, they train local health workers to bring medical care to remote communities.
- Water.org – Advocates for sustainable access to clean water and sanitation solutions worldwide.
- SolarBuddy – Partnering with Fair Future to provide solar-powered lamps to children in energy-poor communities.
- Rotary International – Supports Fair Future’s SolarBuddy project, providing thousands of solar lamps to students in Sumba.
- World Health Organization – Provides global guidance on malaria prevention and community health programs.
- Doctors Without Borders – Delivers emergency medical care in crisis zones, much like Fair Future’s work in remote Indonesia.
- The Global Fund – Funds malaria prevention initiatives, aligning with Fair Future’s efforts in Sumba.
- UNICEF – Works to improve child health, clean water access, and education in underprivileged areas worldwide.
