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In Haray, a school is illuminated for the first time, and everything transforms.
👋 Hi everyone, it's me again, Alex, live from Rumah Kambera, our field base in Lambanapu. How are you?
 A few weeks ago, the SDN Mbajik Primary School in the remote village of Haray, in the Mahu sub-district of far eastern Sumba, opened its doors for the first time.
This is not just a metaphor. It’s genuine light — steady, clean, renewable. For the 80 children attending school here, the 12 people who live there — teachers and families – and the entire village, it marks a significant change.
It was impossible to mark papers, prepare a lesson, or simply live. Here, night falls quickly in the village of Haray, at 5:30 p.m. Within minutes, everything becomes dark. The children couldn't study at home in the evening; they had to do their homework on the ground, in broad daylight, before the lights went out. The teachers, like the families living there, were plunged into total darkness by late afternoon.
There was no internet, no way to print documents, and no electricity. Clean water depended on a pump… but without power, it didn't work. The BAKTI internet satellite, installed by the government, remained inactive: the generator had been out of service for months, and gasoline, scarce and prohibitively expensive, arrived after hours of travel.
 So, we took action. Fair Future, Kawan Baik Indonesia, Smart Energy Tech collaborated to equip the school with a complete solar power system. Thanks to our new Truck n' Load, a team of eight people, including Tony, a technician from Smart Energy, transported over 1.5 tonnes of equipment: 16 solar panels, a 5 kW hybrid inverter, a 14 kWh lithium battery, all the wiring, all the tools, all the rails, and other electrical apparatus.
On-site, as usual, we lived with the local people in a wooden house without electricity or running water, following the village's rhythm. This isn't unusual; it's been our approach for 16 years. For five days, we worked tirelessly with the villagers and local authorities. Comprehensive training was provided at the end of the project to ensure the system was understood, maintained, and managed locally.
Today, there is light. Children continue to learn in the evenings. Phones are charging. Water is flowing. The internet is working. Teachers can teach, plan, and share their knowledge.
 Then, there was that suspended moment. As night fell, a white sheet was stretched across the schoolyard, and a projector lit up. For the first time, about fifty children and adults watched a film. The sound, the images, the magic of a world brought into view by the light. We saw smiles, laughter, and moments of silence. That, too, is what access to energy is all about.
In this part of Sumba, over 120 schools and villages still lack electricity. However, a solar installation like the one in Haray is affordable. But it transforms everything: learning, health, safety, and the future.
This project involved an investment of nearly 250 million Indonesian rupiah, or just over 12,000 Swiss francs. It was made possible thanks to our partners and all of you. So, a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I send you all my warmest regards.
Alex, for Fair Future - Saturday, the 8th of November 2025
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