Two Minutes to Hope: Deci and Linda’s Story of Reaching for Clean Water
30 June 2025
Deci (17 years old) and Linda (11 years old) are two best friends who live in one of the villages assisted by Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) in South Central Timor District (TTS), East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT). Their daily lives are always together, from playing, going to school and helping their parents fetch water from the water source in the village.
At a young age, they already know the hardships of life. Every morning before the sun rises, they carry empty jerry cans and climb the steep two-kilometre path to a spring located at the foot of a hill, taking up to two hours to return home. The journey isn’t just tiring, it’s a daily ritual that takes up time and energy, sacrificing their time to study, play and rest.
The dirt and rocky road they walk on sometimes turns slippery during the rainy season. Often, Deci slips and the water they’ve filled goes down the drain. Linda once had to return home without water because she was exhausted. But there was no other choice. In their village, clean water is a luxury that must be fought for.
Clean Water Condition in NTT
The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in 2024[1] stated that around 86.28% of households in NTT had access to a source of safe drinking water. However, if we look deeper, there is a gap between urban and rural areas. This shows that there are still millions of people in remote areas who do not enjoy easy access to clean water like Deci and Linda.
This challenge is compounded by polluted water sources and limited infrastructure, especially in eastern Indonesia and remote areas.
However, everything changed when a clean water access development project from Plan Indonesia came to their village, which was the result of the Jelajah Timur 2023 campaign and the beneficiaries’ self-help.
Together with local residents, Plan Indonesia built a clean water distribution system that delivers water from a source at the foot of the hill to public hydrant points that are distributed near residents’ homes.
This development allows a pipe distribution distance of 1.5 kilometres and the presence of five public hydrants at several points of residents’ homes. One of them is just 2 minutes away from Deci and Linda’s house.
The first day the water flowed from the hydrants felt like a holiday. Residents gathered, cheering as clear water gushed from the taps. Deci and Linda couldn’t hide their smiles. No longer having to spend their mornings on long journeys, they could now take a quick shower, get to school on time and even help their mum prepare breakfast.
This change is more than just practical. It’s about dignity, health and the future. With clean water, the risk of diarrhoea and skin diseases is eliminated. For children like Deci and Linda, they now have extra time to learn and play. Furthermore, mothers can run small businesses from home without having to leave their children for too long.
The project also taught the community about the importance of water management and sanitation. Deci’s family is now a volunteer water manager in her village. She feels proud to be able to help maintain a public facility that is changing people’s lives.
Deci and Linda’s story is a reminder that big changes can start small. That access to basic needs like clean water is a right, not a luxury. And that collaboration between humanitarian organisations and local communities can create miracles in everyday life.
Written by: Agus Haru│Editor: Moudy Alfiana│Photo: Plan Indonesia/Agus Haru
[1] Badan Pusat Statistik, 2024, Persentase Rumah Tangga yang Memiliki Akses terhadap Sumber Air Minum Layak Menurut Provinsi dan Klasifikasi Desa, https://www.bps.go.id/id/statistics-table/2/ODU0IzI=/persentase-rumah-tangga-yang-memiliki-akses-terhadap-sumber-air-minum-layak-menurut-provinsi-dan-klasifikasi-desa–persen-.html
