The Fair Future Foundation in East Indonesia combats social and medical injustice and aims to ensure everyone has access to healthcare, clean water, and education. Join us in making a difference.
East Sumba—where Fair Future implements life-saving programs for clean water, health care, and community resilience.
Experience the transformative power of Fair Future Foundation’s #PrimaryMedicalCare program. Witness first-hand how our pioneering initiative is revolutionizing healthcare in Eastern Indonesia’s most isolated regions. Our community-driven solutions and dedicated Kawan Sehat health agents are bringing sustainable health improvements and hope to…
The rainy season is weeks away and malaria cases in Eastern Sumba are about to rise sharply. Fair Future’s ZeroMalaria program urgently needs your donation for crucial medical supplies like diagnostic kits and antimalarial medications. Your support directly equips our medical teams and saves lives. Act now.
In this news "Picture of the Day", under the terrible heat of East Sumba, a mother and her daughter trudge forward, carrying five empty jerry cans. Their feet tread on arid ground, strewn with stones and brush. The day started a few hours ago and the journey is far from over. They have travelled more than five kilometres on foot and have as much ahead of them to reach their destination: Kullups, holes dug by hand in the rock of a hill. (Ref. Read this article here)
In this part of the world, kullups are more than mere rainwater reservoirs; they represent a vestige of human ingenuity against near-chronic water scarcity. Rainwater, channeled by soil and rock, seeps in to feed these small stone basins at the foot of a hill. It's a source of life, but also a source of heart-wrenching dilemmas. For every precious drop, there is a hidden cost, measured not in money but in lost opportunities, compromised health, and uncertain futures.
Consider the mother. Each trip for water represents hours when she can't work, maintain her home, or care for her family. What about her daughter? With every step she takes toward the kullup, she moves further from an education that could unlock doors to a better future. The thirst for learning is there, but it is weighed against a more immediate, more vital thirst.
Against this backdrop, the teams from Fair Future and Kawan Baik step in, armed with the will to make a difference and the tools and expertise needed to do so. The #WaterConnections program doesn't merely supply water; it aims to redefine these communities' relationship with this essential resource. By installing water collection and filtration systems, educating on hygiene best practices, and encouraging community participation, Fair Future and Kawan Baik aim to break the vicious cycle of poverty and disease.
Waterborne diseases like Malaria, Dengue, diarrhea and cholera are commonplace in these areas. But their impact doesn't stop at the individual. A sick mother cannot provide for her family. A sick daughter cannot attend school. And a cycle of suffering and poverty perpetuates, generation after generation.
The work of Fair Future and Kawan Baik isn't completed in a day or even a year. It's a long-term commitment, an investment in the future of these communities. But every installed water system, every educational session, and every assisted family represents a step toward a future where this mother and daughter won't have to choose between the present and the future, between thirst and the thirst for learning.
In a world where clean water is often taken for granted, it's easy to forget that for some, it's a luxury that comes at a high price. By working on the ground alongside those who live this reality every day, Fair Future and Kawan Baik remind us that behind every drop of water, there's a human story, a struggle, and an opportunity for change.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu, 17th of October, 2023.
A malaria education poster helps families in rural East Sumba understand prevention, symptoms and practical protective measures, supporting community health where access to care is limited.
The image illustrates our ongoing project: the excavation of a septic tank. This is the very first step towards the installation of the first-ever sanitation infrastructure in the village's history. Our goal is to reinforce the health and well-being of the families in this community. In closely associating ourselves with the villagers, a core principle in our approach, we work hand in hand to provide them vital access to water and sanitation facilities, despite their isolation in the eastern part of Sumba.
For several months now, our organizations – Fair Future and Kawan Baik – have favored constructing lightweight steel facilities. This decision is based on hygiene, maintenance, and construction efficiency grounds. The entire structure (in this case, two toilet – shower stalls) is constructed at the Fair Future Foundation’s base camp in Waingapu, called Rumah Kambera. We then transport the dismantled structure to the site of installation. It takes about a week for our team to operationalize an installation like this, followed by one to two weeks dedicated to finishing and aesthetic touch-ups.
In this underprivileged environment, families lack access to basic services, needs such as access to water or electricity are non-existent. During the dry season, when rainwater tanks are almost empty, they must travel miles to collect just a few litres of often unsuitable water. See the related #waterconnections posts here.
In the village of Laindatang, inhabitants have never had the privilege of a working shower or toilet. The enthusiasm and joy are palpable as they witness the construction of these new facilities, bringing them a simple feeling of happiness.
This installation will also contribute to reducing infectious diseases caused by the absence of adequate sanitation facilities in the village. This will likely lead to an increase in the quality of life for the villagers, a reduction in the time spent gathering water, and promote overall community health and well-being. This initiative is more than just building sanitation facilities. It symbolizes the start of a new chapter for Laindatang, signifying change and development towards a healthier community.
Thus, the work of Fair Future and Kawan Baik extends beyond physical construction, promoting progress, health, and hope for the future.
Fantastic news! We’ve officially secured tax-free approval for importing 2,224 SolarBuddy lamps from Australia. This historic milestone makes Fair Future the first NGO to achieve duty-free humanitarian imports in Indonesia. These lamps will soon light up villages in East Sumba. Huge thanks to Rotary, SolarBuddy, and our teams for making this possible!
Katrina has spent three years as a Kawan Sehat health agent in Lapinu, battling an ongoing water crisis. Contaminated water fuels disease, sanitation is dire, and families struggle daily. In this 90-second testimony, she speaks of her village’s urgent need for clean water. Take action now!
Fair Future celebrates Christmas and welcomes 2025 with gratitude for our supporters. Together, we’ve made a difference in thousands of ultra-rural lives. Looking ahead, we aim to build on our efforts for brighter futures, focusing on essential resources like clean water, healthcare, and education this year.
We are thrilled to announce that Elma, who has been with us for several months, will join our team as a nutrition expert. She will be integrated into our #PrimaryMedicalCare and healthy living programs. Elma’s expertise will greatly benefit rural communities, improving their health and well-being. Welcome, Elma!
SolarBuddy lamps provide reliable off-grid light to children and families in remote East Sumba, supporting study, safety and daily life where electricity is unavailable.
This new “Picture of the Day” shows Ayu spending time with a child from Laindatang in East Sumba, where we have been working for over two years as part of the #WaterConnections and #ZeroMalaria programs. Ayu will measure this child along with 78 others, and also weigh him to assess his hygiene and determine whether he is doing well and gaining weight.
Our main objective is to improve the standard of living of ultra-rural communities while ensuring their sustainable development. We pay particular attention to promoting the growth and physical well-being of children, as malnutrition remains a significant problem affecting approximately 15–20% of young people. This means that hundreds of children are facing weight and nutrition issues that concern us deeply.
We provide healthcare programs that educate parents, villagers, and schools in ultra-rural areas about good nutrition. Due to the extreme poverty and isolation in these regions, healthy eating habits are often unfamiliar concepts. Therefore, we provide them with nutritious meals made with local ingredients while teaching them to grow their own gardens for a healthier diet.
Our approach emphasises crucial skills such as eating vegetables as often as possible, drinking clean water through our #WaterConnections initiative, and protecting yourself from infectious diseases by adopting preventative measures.
One of our team members can be seen in this new Picture of the Day, watching over a child. Our mission is to weigh, measure and evaluate hundreds of children every week to ensure their medical and hygienic well-being. This evaluation is essential to determine the effectiveness of our on-site programs. We have witnessed impressive results: Better access to water has improved nutrition, which has translated into increased vitality, better health, and an overall healthier lifestyle.
Improving water availability and nutrition creates a beneficial loop that transforms lives and strengthens disadvantaged communities.
Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The 12th of July 2024.
Save the date! Join us on June 14, 2024, at Kulidan Space near Denpasar to celebrate Fair Future Foundation’s 15th anniversary. Our clean water awareness event includes the screening of ‘Matawai, the Shades of Water,’ discussions on sustainable water solutions, and artistic performances.
