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The words they don't say, but we listen to them.
👋 It's me, Alex. I write these lines quietly, with the voices we rarely hear in my head and the dust of villages where people listen more than they talk. I hope you are well, wherever you are.
The Words They Don't Say is a story highlighting the struggles of many young people living in isolated communities, where silence often speaks volumes. By sharing this story, I aim to convey humility, respect, and admiration for these silent voices we work with daily.
The lack of infrastructure in these remote villages is evident. There are no roads, running water, toilets, or electricity.
Yet, dignity persists. Upon arrival, the landscape takes a back seat to the profound silence that envelops the community. This silence is steeped in tradition and caution, often carried by young girls who do not know how to express their inner struggles.
The realities faced by girls and women in these communities, who walk for hours to fetch water, bear the silent weight of numerous challenges. Holding a dirty white jerrycan, they carry an unspeakable pain: the lack of hygiene products, soap, and safe spaces to express their femininity and humanity. This is not merely a logistical challenge but a significant social and public health issue that affects their quality of life and dignity.
Our response begins with presence. We sit, we listen, and we learn.
 Members of Fair Future and Kawan Baik Indonesia facilitate this journey. Kawan Sehat's health workers, consisting of local women, mothers, and sisters, employ gentle communication to share their personal stories, gradually breaking down the barriers of silence and igniting essential conversations. They address menstruation, pain, and experiences of unwanted relationships—topics often enveloped in mystery, yet which fundamentally define their lives.
This approach redefines healthcare. It transcends traditional medicine and diagnostic practices, focusing instead on trust, presence, and human connection. In collaboration with Kawan Baik, Fair Future strives to create spaces where women can feel visible, respected, and safe to communicate openly.
Our tenth public health campaign, targeting sexually transmitted infections, is planned for implementation in 2025 and exemplifies this philosophy. It is not a didactic session but rather a dialogue created with, for, and by those who truly understand the implications of silence. Every spoken word is a step toward better health, greater autonomy, and increased dignity.
This project is not a one-way lesson, but a mutual exchange of wisdom. We learn from them the importance of li
stening, suspending judgment, and remaining in loving silence. We discover that sometimes, unspoken words can catalyse profound change.
Fair Future and Kawan Baik Indonesia play a vital role in this journey, acting as vehicles of empowerment and agents of transformation.
Thank you for being so supportive. Every moment and every word shared can potentially improve the lives of many silently crying out for change. Alex Wettstein.
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