There was a time when there are no skilled construction workers on Sumba. When Nihiwatu Resort, now rebranded as Nihi Sumba Island, was under construction, hundreds of Javanese tradesmen had to be brought in to work. However, the resort owners were committed in ensuring that the skills of the Javanese workers were passed on to the local Sumbanese who were eager to learn. Many of these Sumbanese workers have since become local contractors, building houses, government buildings, and even the Sumba Foundation’s clinics and Learning Centers across the island.