Our team at the drilling site of Phase 3 of the Laindatang Water Connection Project in East Sumba...
Courage and Determination at Laindatang Water Connections
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To reach ultra-rural villages, we rely on the Truck of Life to navigate rough, broken roads. This vehicle allows us to deliver essential supplies, including medicines, water, tools, solar kits, and food. Logistics play a crucial role in our program; without access to fuel, spare parts, and the commitment to long days on the road, we would be unable to reach the patients in need.
Well Drilling
Drilling deep wells to access groundwater and provide families with safe, sustainable drinking water.
Drilling in Laindatang: Overcoming the Harshest Conditions
Behold the new “Picture of the Day”, showcasing the 8-inch borehole being drilled in Laindatang, one of the driest regions in the world. This demanding and logistically complicated work presents numerous technical challenges. However, our motivation is unwavering, as the livelihood of an ultra-rural village community without access to clean water hinges on our success.
The #WaterConnections project in the village of Laindatang is both a significant technical challenge and a demonstration of human ingenuity in the face of natural adversities. This project aims to drill a deep well in one of the world’s driest regions of East Sumba and the world. We are the first to attempt a deep borehole here, and the logistical challenges are immense.
Transporting our own drilling machine, weighing around six tonnes, to terrain that is not easy to access even for the #TruckofLife, demonstrates the team’s exceptional determination and adaptability. The process was quite an adventure, which you can watch in this short film on YouTube.
Using rainwater for drilling by creating a mini artificial lake and a dam made of earth and branches is an innovative and ecological solution that highlights our commitment to overcoming obstacles while preserving the environment. Managing the water required for drilling, approximately 10,000 litres per day, without depleting already limited local resources, demonstrates careful planning and execution.
We encountered some challenges along the way. There was a landslide at the beginning of the borehole, and then another one a few days ago. However, the project was able to continue thanks to land stabilization measures. These technical interventions show a careful approach to unexpected situations, ensuring the safety and success of the well. We have published a gallery of images related to the drilling, and we recommend you take a look here.
This drilling project represents more than a technical endeavour; it catalyzes change, offering crucial access to clean water for the Laindatang community. Access to water is essential for improving residents’ health, nutrition, and hygiene.
We anticipate that the drilling will be finished by the end of April, which means there’s about another month of work left. This aligns with our initial estimate of two to four months of drilling work. Fair Future and Kawan Baik are not only involved in the physical aspects of the project but are also preparing the community to make the most of this valuable resource. The training modules scheduled for mid-April are crucial to ensure that the water brings lasting benefits in terms of improved nutrition, good hygiene, and better health access.
This drilling project is truly a once-in-a-lifetime endeavour. I want to express my gratitude to all of you because what we are attempting to accomplish here is remarkable. Each contribution brings us closer to turning this dream into a reality and providing water and hope to a community in desperate need.
Together, we confront adversity with resilience and innovation, demonstrating that no challenge is insurmountable when we unite for a brighter future. Your generosity transforms lives and establishes a legacy of health and prosperity for future generations.
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We recommend you take a look at this gallery of images related to how we bring the drilling machine on-site;
Some short films on YouTube about drilling here in Laindatang.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The 28th of March 2024
Drilling in Extreme Conditions: Challenges and Triumphs
Our team had been looking for favourable weather conditions since mid-February to move our drill to the #WaterConnections project site in Laindatang village. Finally, on February 22, we seized our opportunity when a truck transported our more than seven-ton drill to Laindatang.
Getting the heavily loaded truck there presented another challenge. Upon arrival, we had to manually carry the machine approximately 300 meters to reach the drilling site. This exhilarating moment filled us with wonder and pleasure, reinforced by our appreciation for the unwavering support of local residents and villagers who are always ready to help us.
Due to the need for water during drilling, we install a substantial temporary 5,000-liter tank. It may seem paradoxical, but having access to water is essential to locate it underground. The installation process took several hours as we erected an impressive tower with a height of 8 meters.
Later in the day, a religious ceremony was held by the villagers who practice the Marapu religion. Three small chickens were offered as sacrifices to determine if we would encounter any problems when drilling for water so that their entrails could be read. According to the community members who organized the ritual, no problems will occur during this deep drilling.
Currently, we are on the fifth day of our expedition and have already gilded at a depth of almost 70 meters. However, a problem has arisen in the form of so-called “water loss”. This phenomenon refers to a situation in which the injected water does not rise due to damage caused by a crack in the six-inch diameter of the well.
Although the machine is working properly, we are currently facing a water shortage. Due to insufficient rainfall and the unavailability of water trucks during dry weather, we do not have access to enough rainwater to fill our on-site tanks needed for drilling. Our daily drilling demand amounts to almost 10,000 litres of water with around 30 meters remaining before we reach the target depth of 100 meters – where, hopefully, an abundant source awaits us which would be beneficial in providing drinking water within this village; thus considerably improving everyone’s quality of life.
Despite a challenging environment, the team engaged on-site perseveres tirelessly in arduous tasks. The heavy drill rods weigh nearly 50 kilograms each and the aggressive elements such as the intense heat of the day, the rain, the wind, the mud, and the cold of the evening prove powerless to stifle our fierce training. Each day brings its share of obstacles, but we remain resolutely focused on achieving our ultimate goal: improving the lives of the residents of the Laindatang Village.
Thank you very much for your attention and support in the water connection project we are working on in Laindatang. This project is significant for both the locals and us as a Swiss foundation, and we have put our hearts into it. As a reminder, last February, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of Fair Future, and this project is important to us all. Thank you very much for your help and support.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – The 3rd of March 2024
Groundwater is the Key to Laindatang’s Project
Our new "Picture of the Day" showcases the exceptional skills of Kawan Neni, our drilling partner and an accomplished dowser who has successfully identified crucial underground water sources essential to our mission..
In the scorching heat of Eastern Indonesia, on the rugged terrain of East Sumba, a relentless endeavour unfolds. The Fair Future Foundation's #WaterConnection project in Laindatang has been an unyielding beacon of hope for over a year, striving to deliver essential services to a community entrenched in hardship. At the heart of this relentless quest lies an ancient practice – dowsing, also known as radiesthésie.
Quest for Lifesaving Springs Beneath
Water, the essence of life, remains an elusive dream in Laindatang, where the struggle for access to clean and dependable water persists. With a sprawling village expanse and a school that welcomes 78 eager young minds daily, the dire need for a sustainable water source has never been more pronounced. The village, like the school, lacks even the most fundamental amenities: no toilets, no clean water, no electricity.
Dowsing, a centuries-old technique, has emerged as an invaluable tool in the arsenal of the Fair Future Foundation and Kawan Baik Foundation. Over the years, this method has proven its worth repeatedly, unveiling concealed aquifers that sustain life in this unforgiving region.
A Pioneering Solution for Laindatang
The #WaterConnection project, initiated in 2024, coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Swiss-based Fair Future Foundation. Its success hinges in part on the discovery of reliable underground water, a mission entrusted to dowsing. As we stand on Phases 2 and 3 thresholds, our objectives are unequivocal: secure deep wells, possibly two, to ensure a constant and clean water supply for over a hundred families and the local school. Our optimism soars as we've identified three potential drilling locations, all but guaranteeing the presence of water.
This pivotal project phase signifies a significant turning point. The construction of additional reservoirs will cement access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and a brighter future for the entire village. The school, where children thirst for knowledge but have been denied the most rudimentary resources, will finally be equipped with the essential infrastructure they deserve.
Progress, One Precious Drop at a Time
The Fair Future Foundation's unwavering commitment to improving lives remains unshaken. The #WaterConnection project in Laindatang stands as a testament to this commitment. Guided by dowsing, we are on the brink of effecting transformation, uplifting not just the village but also the aspirations of 78 young children aged 6 to 12, who yearn for a brighter future, not just for themselves but for their entire families.
As we dig deeper into the earth's belly, searching for concealed water sources through the ancient art of dowsing, we embark on a journey toward enduring change. This voyage serves as a stark reminder that every drop counts and that access to clean water isn't merely a fundamental human right but also a catalyst for progress.
Today, we must quickly move forward with Phases #2 and #3 of this #WaterConnections project for the residents of this extremely rural village and all the children who live there. We cannot achieve this without your help. So, how about we all roll up our sleeves and tackle this challenge together
Stay tuned as we continue our mission to unearth the treasures hidden beneath the surface and usher in a new wave of transformation in Laindatang.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu, January 15th, 2024.
Transforming Lives in East Sumba: Rotary Australia’s Vital Partnership
The partnership between Rotary Australia and Fair Future aims to make a positive impact on vulnerable communities in East Sumba. Through a joint effort, we are dedicated to providing clean water access and disease control, which will help bring hope and a brighter future to these communities. Our collaboration highlights the importance of friendship and teamwork in achieving these life-changing initiatives. Explore the transformative results of our revolutionary programs and witness the strength of our commitment to making a difference.
Reduce health risks with clean water for families
In this "Picture of the Day" shows you what children do several times a day: Fetch water for the family with some 5-litre jerrycans. Most of the time, the young girls take care of this. Here in this photo, it is a young child of ten years. There are no daughters in the family. He does this job instead of going to school. He and his family have only two litres or less of water a day for eating, drinking, bathing and everything else.
Unfortunately, like here in Tana Mbanas (Sumba Tenggah), there is still a vast majority of villages in Sumba that do not have access to clean drinking water. In these villages, the inhabitants often depend on surface water sources such as rivers, lakes or ponds, which bacteria, viruses, chemicals or by animals and insects mostly contaminate.
The lack of clean water has severe consequences for the health of the inhabitants. Waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid, hepatitis A, Malaria and Dengue fever, are common where access to clean water and toilets is limited or absent. These diseases can be severe and even fatal, especially in children, pregnant women and the elderly.
To help villages without clean water in Sumba, Fair Future and Kawan Baik are implementing effective measures to improve access to clean and healthy water. Our solutions include drilling deep wells with our equipment, construction of water treatment plants, storage tanks, rainwater harvesting and storage, and installation of water management systems—irrigation and construction of healthy sanitation facilities.
We are still seeking funding and technical resources to set up sustainable, safe and clean water infrastructure in this region, one of the world's poorest and most dry.
Alexandre Wettstein from the Foundation’s Medico-Social Camp in East Sumba, Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu, on Mai 1st, 2023.
The Interactive Map of Water Connections Project
Fair Future develops participatory monitoring tools as part of its screening and definition of needs. This map is produced as part of the #WaterConnections project. It is updated as a new sewerage installation, a new deep borehole, a new clean water reservoir and everything that directly or indirectly affects this project is built. This Google map allows us to work, do this project and calculate: Heights, elevations, distances, depths etc… Thanks to this tool, this project is much easier to set up.
The drilling of the first well in Mbinudita, East Sumba
The procedure for drilling the first well in Mbinudita as part of the Water Connections project. A work of Titan in insane conditions. Three weeks of life on site in the rain, working around the clock to reach a relatively deep water table since clean, clear and healthy water is found at a depth of just over 60m.