The Sumba Foundation strives to lessen the consequences of poverty on the island of Sumba. They create village-based projects that tackle the issues of health (such as malaria control), education, water and income-generation. The Sumba Foundation works to do this, all while trying to preserve and respect the culture and traditions of the Sumbanese people. Durning my travels in Sumba, we went on the "Sumba foundation tour," where we visited a school and a malaria clinic built by the foundation. It was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. We instantly connected with all of the children at the school even though non of us spoke the same language. It is amazing the way kindness and generosity can bring complete strangers together. It is qualities such as those that become an unspoken universal language that can be even stronger than words.
Learn more about the Sumba foundation here: http://sumbafoundation.org/#/
(Photographed in this series are images from a local village, the Malaria clinic, and the school)