Nursing Connects: The Balige Project – Kaiserswerther Schwesternschaft
International cooperation, lived solidarity, and new perspectives in nursing: the Balige Project shows how partnership across continents can make a real difference.
The project supports the partnership between Kaiserswerther Diakonie in Germany and the Protestant Batak Church in Indonesia. It strengthens professional exchange as well as human connection in the field of nursing.
Nursing Connects Cultures
At the heart of the project is the cooperation between the nursing academy in Balige (Sumatra) and the nursing school of Kaiserswerther Diakonie. Regular meetings and visits encourage the exchange of knowledge, experience, and cultural perspectives. The goal is to recruit qualified nurses while building a partnership based on mutual respect.
Each year, around ten graduates join the program. In Indonesia, they prepare for their work in Germany through language courses and intercultural training. After arrival, they work as nurses in the recognition process and are supported until they receive full professional recognition.
Arriving and Belonging
The project places strong emphasis on helping participants settle well in Germany. In addition to professional integration, the focus is on daily orientation, social participation, and personal encounters. This creates relationships that go far beyond the workplace and make real community possible.
A Sustainable Partnership for the Future
The Balige Project is an example of how international diaconal cooperation can be sustainable:
- ethically responsible recruitment
- partnership on equal terms
- intercultural exchange and mutual learning
The partnership strengthens nursing in Germany while opening new life and career opportunities for the participants — built on trust, respect, and shared responsibility.