Little tools can make a big difference. When we partnered with Waves For Water last year on donating a portion of every sale from our up-cycled wax combs, we didn’t quite realise how big.

But, every bit adds up! Especially when a lot of surfers around the globe use wax combs.

The funds collected from 12 months of wax comb sales was channelled directly into helping an entire village in Lombok, Indonesia get access to clean water and sanitation. Something that will serve their community and the surrounding area for years to come. 

Here’s what Waves 4 Water had to say about the project…

With support from Creatures of Leisure, we worked alongside local leaders in places like Lombok, where water scarcity and sanitation challenges are intensified by population growth and climate change. Together, we developed practical, community-driven solutions designed to last.

In 2022, the village of Panggel was identified by Waves For Water Australia as a community in urgent need of clean water access and basic hygiene facilities due to recurring illnesses. The village's remote location—homes are scattered along a mountain ridge—makes delivering supplies and implementing improvements challenging.

To tackle these issues, we:

• Provided the community with bucket water filtration systems to ensure safe drinking water.

• Constructed a water tank to increase clean water storage capacity and provide a more reliable supply.

• Trained local leaders in the use and maintenance of these systems, empowering the community to sustain these improvements.

During a monitoring trip in late 2022, village elders highlighted the need for basic sanitation facilities, such as toilets, showers, and handwashing stations. They recognized the connection between hygiene and health, noting that open defecation in fields and rivers was spreading diseases like cholera and typhoid. This issue persisted despite improved access to clean water.

The community’s request was specific: hygiene facilities needed to be placed near the mosque and central gathering spots, as these locations experience population spikes of up to 600 people during cultural events.

In 2023, Creatures of Leisure launched the initiative "Little Tools Can Make a Big Difference," donating proceeds from every wax comb sold to Waves For Water Australia to fund Panggel’s hygiene facility project. The partnership aimed to:

• Build essential facilities, including a toilet, shower, and handwashing station, to enhance the community’s health and hygiene.

• Collaborate with local volunteers who contributed their labor, fostering a strong sense of ownership over the project.

The impact of these efforts has been profound. With access to clean water and sanitation, Panggel is noticeably healthier, and cases of cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea have significantly decreased. Residents take pride in maintaining the new facilities, and younger generations are teaching elders how to use them.

Even one instance of open defecation can contaminate a water source, so our work goes beyond building infrastructure. We partner with residents to raise awareness and encourage lasting behavior changes around sanitation and hygiene.

Community elders have already requested additional hygiene facilities, inspiring us to expand our focus beyond clean water to address evolving needs. This project is about more than infrastructure—it’s about empowering Panggel to take control of their health and build a sustainable future.

You can join us in support of Waves For Water’s mission by adding this wax comb to your next purchase. Check it out below!