Indonesia
Our Solutions
Our work in the arid parts of Bali & Sumba makes transformational change across these key areas:
Safe Water
We build rainwater tanks, harvest springs, and provide water filtration systems.
Hygiene
We build and install handwashing stations and educate communities on basic hygiene practices and soap making.
Menstrual Health
We educate schoolgirls about menstrual management, hygiene, breaking stigma, building sisterhood and reusable pad-making.
Historical Context
In every country Surge works, we pay close attention to the remnants of the colonial past and take steps to ensure that our work is an active part of decolonization.
The 17,000+ islands in the Indonesian archipelago boast significant natural, cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity. Indonesia has been subjected to colonial control through most of its history, mostly by the Dutch since the 16th century through 1942, and then by the Japanese until 1945. Indonesia wasn’t free of foreign control until it fought its way to independence in 1949 from the Dutch. Domestic political violence followed as did economic instability, social unrest, corruption, and terrorism.
In spite of this history, Indonesia is a growing country of talented, hard-working people with vibrant ideas about how to address the challenges they face.
The Issue Addressed
In a country of 275 million people, over 30 million people lack access to safe water and more than 70 million people lack access to improved sanitation. Our work is focused in Sumba Tengah, Sumba and in the arid villages of Bali, including Seraya Timur in Karangasem.
In these communities, in the dry season many streams and springs dry up so villagers must travel several kilometers, multiple times a day, to fetch water from scarce water supplies in wells, open springs and rivers. In some situations, purchasing water is the only choice, which places an economic burden on many families and contributes to pollution and plastic waste.
We work hand in hand with community-based organizations and local leaders to help deliver their solutions to secure safe water and support menstrual health and hygiene.
Our Work
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