Arrival of 2,224 SolarBuddy lamps in Rumah Kambera after months of hard work and dedication.
How these lamps enhance health, education, and lives in East Sumba’s rural communities.
2,224 SolarBuddy lamps stored at Rumah Kambera’s base, ready for distribution
Arrival of 2,224 SolarBuddy lamps at Rumakambera: A light for thousands of children in darkness
After six long months of negotiations, paperwork, and relentless logistics, the 2,224 SolarBuddy lamps have finally arrived at the Fair Future Foundation’s socio-medical base in Rumah Kambera, East Sumba. This landmark moment, driven by the generous support of SolarBuddy.org and Rotary International, marks a new chapter of real solutions and possibilities for thousands of children and families living in villages without electricity, water, or medical care.
The lamps include 2,200 SolarBuddy Junior units and 24 SolarBuddy Student models, each adapted to the extreme conditions of rural Indonesia. The SolarBuddy Junior is a robust, compact lamp designed for individual or household use. It recharges during the day and provides hours of clean, safe light at night, enabling children to study, families to prepare food, and everyone to move safely in the dark. The SolarBuddy Student, on the other hand, is a larger version, specifically designed for classrooms and group activities in the 24 schools where they will be distributed, reaching over 2,200 students. Please, read this PDF Documentation here.
“Bringing these lamps to isolated communities is more than just a logistical success: it’s a real solution, something real. Light means health, safety, and education for these children and their families.” — Alex Wettstein, CEO and Founder of the Fair Future Foundation
These villages often lack running water, toilets, or reliable medical care. Without light, injuries and infections increase. Without light, children cannot learn after sunset. The arrival of these lamps changes everything. It is a profound transformation in the lives of these communities. These lamps will help prevent injuries from nighttime travel, support clean and safe food preparation, and, crucially, ensure that children can continue their education, perhaps for the first time under the glow of a light designed just for them.
Beyond these immediate impacts, the SolarBuddy lamps also support the foundation’s broader medical work: treating wounds, preventing infections, and educating communities about health practices, even at night. Light is life-saving when working in the dark.
The final leg of the journey was no small feat: Alex and the Truck & Load navigated challenging terrain, multiple ferries, and 10 days of near-nonstop driving to bring these essential lamps from Surabaya to East Sumba. The lamps are now safely stored in a dedicated warehouse, funded by Rotary and built by Fair Future with Kawan Baik Indonesia Foundation. Once emptied, this warehouse will become a small medical laboratory, another promise for the future.
We thank SolarBuddy.org, Rotary International, and John Kevan for their exceptional efforts and unwavering commitment to this project. Their dedication has delivered light and sparked new possibilities for thousands of children.
Today, the 6th of June 2025 – Alex Wettstein
A Small Light, A Big Difference
A small light at home changes everything for children and families in ultra-rural areas. It brings safety at night, the opportunity to learn and read after sunset, and improved health. In villages without electricity, it transforms daily life, making it brighter, safer, and more dignified. For these children, a single solar lamp opens doors to a future full of possibilities and hope.
Arrival of SolarBuddy lamps at Rumah Kambera
List of Related Organisations with Hyperlinks
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SolarBuddy – Distributes solar-powered lights to improve lives in off-grid communities, just as Fair Future does in East Sumba.
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Rotary International – Supports humanitarian initiatives worldwide, including the SolarBuddy lamp donation to Fair Future.
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Last Mile Health – Brings health services to remote communities, aligned with Fair Future’s field operations.
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GlobalGiving – Funds grassroots projects improving health and education in underserved regions, resonating with Fair Future’s mission.
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Lighting Africa – Promotes safe, sustainable lighting solutions in low-income countries, similar to Fair Future’s solar initiatives.
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Doctors Without Borders – Provides emergency medical aid in challenging environments, sharing Fair Future’s commitment to health access.
