At 80, they swim 3 km to have drinking water "they deserve our encouragement"

How Indonesian grannies collect freshwater by swimming

Imagine for a moment living in the picturesque village of Tinambun in Indonesia, a place where nature is lush and the climate pleasant. However, this idyllic life is marked by one major difficulty: the lack of drinking water. Surrounded by the sea, the village has only salt water, which is unfit for consumption. The only accessible source of fresh water is located three kilometers from the village, up a river, making the supply of drinking water particularly difficult.

Outstanding athletes

In this difficult context, the elderly women of the village, whose traditional role is to look after the home, have taken it upon themselves to ensure the collection of fresh water. While their children and grandchildren are absorbed in daily work, these courageous grandmothers embark, once a week, on an aquatic adventure that could feature in the greatest exploration stories.

 

 

These grandmothers don't just swim. They equip themselves with buoys, which are nothing more than sturdy car inner tubes, much more durable than the inflatable ones found on beaches. Each grandmother straps around 200 five-liter plastic bottles to her waist. To ensure they stay buoyant, they only fill them halfway, then carefully hoist them out of the water once the collection is complete.

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