Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Since the start of development in 1989, we have been committed to being a leader in Responsible Tourism. Our commitment to the Sumbanese people has improved the lives of many thousands of our neighbours. We actively involve our guests in our mission to help and with their generous donations we have been able to provide potable water to more than 4,500 villagers, who before had to walk miles each way to small springs to fetch a bucket water.
We have built and staffed three of our own clinics and support another 4 government clinics in the remotest regions of the island. Our medical program is providing more than 10,000 people with reliable treatments and medicines.
In only one year we were able to reduce the infection rates of children under five years of age by 87%, and many lives have verifiably been saved. Our Malaria Project has so far provided 4,000 people with treated mosquito nets and free medicines in the 59 villages we are presently working in. The WHO, Global Fund and the UN have come to study the methodology of our malaria project which is on the cutting edge of this worldwide battle against the scourge of malaria, a disease that kills millions each year.
Our educational initiatives include rebuilding schools to create safe learning environments. To date we have rebuilt four Primary schools and provided them with water, toilets and schools supplies at the beginning of each semester for all of the 1,200 students. We started the first and as yet only computer class with the donation of 16 computers to the Senior School in the provincial capital of Waikabubak. We also have a university scholarship program for children from the villages nearby. Those students are guaranteed work at the resort or at our Sumba Foundation Clinics upon graduation.
98% of our 150 staff are Sumbanese, most from the neighbouring villages. Many have not completed 3rd grade education but now all have been trained and taught language and various hospitality trades.
They guide our guests in the villages where we encourage purchasing of handicrafts made by the women. They learn from our guest but at the same time they are teachers; providing our guests with insights into a way of life that has not changed for thousands of years. This interaction fuels the substantial guest donations to our projects.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
