NCFI Regional Projects - Kalimantan Project Follow-Up Report

This trip was the first of the training under the proposed Kalimantan Community Health Training Project. This time round, two Indonesian nurses who participated in the Train-the-Trainers programme in July 2007 joined the NCF team. As usual, the team took the opportunity to meet with Perwakin nurses to encourage and also follow up on NCF matters in Jakarta. Alicia and Chieko met up with eight Perwakin members, as Swee Eng had to fly back on 1 November. Both also met up with Ruth Lichtenberger and Barbara Simsen, who currently is the Head of a Nursing College in a Christian University in Jakarta. Ruth is a former NCFI General Secretary and Barbara a former NCFI staff worker.

Day 1: October 23, fly to Jakarta
Chieko and Swee Eng flew to Jakarta on October 23 while Alicia flew direct from Manila on October 22. Mr Handojo, MIKA executive Director, met us at the airport and one of the MIKA volunteers provided accommodation for our stay in Jakarta.

Day 2: October 24, fly to Kalimantan
The team, accompanied by Mr Handojo and Mr Y flew to Pontainak, Kalimantan and travelled onto to Makedonia School at Ngabang. We stayed at the Girls Brigade Guest House.

Days 3 to 5: October25-27, Community Health Care Teaching
The number of participants totalled - 92 and consisted of pastors, church workers, and teachers. As usual an opening ceremony was held with a Ministry of Education staff member present to grace the occasion. Team members prayed every morning before the sessions.

Observations made
Participants showed enthusiasm through their active participation in small group activities. It was very encouraging to note that participants were challenged to write their commitment to apply what they learn in the training in their family and community. The Makedonia teachers were always alert to provide for all the needs during the training. The handouts had been translated into the Bahasa (Indonesian) language and visual aids helped the trainees a lot in understanding the health topics. We have arranged that each trainee will have a copy of the book "Where There is No Doctor" translated into Bahasa.

Meeting with Perwakin nurses in Jakarta
Chieko and Alicia gave words of appreciation to Perwakin nurses for sending Juniarta and Fio in the team. The two Perwakin nurses shared their joy and excitement in experiencing team-teaching during training. Furthermore the overwhelming response and active participation of the trainees was an inspiration for the team. It was proposed to have at least one of them, or if possible both, joining the team in the next training program.

Chieko, promoted the NCFI conference in Nigeria, 14 to 18 Sept 2008. She challenged them to join this momentous event. She hoped that NCF Indonesia would be presented as a new member at that conference. We encouraged the Perwakin NCF to take part in the ministry of NCFI and PACEA region by becoming a member. Chieko explained the responsibilities of being an NCFI member, by sharing her experience and that of NCF Japan. The response from the Perwakin nurses was that they needed more prayer support combined with a deeper commitment of the executive members to mobilize Indonesian nurses to join together and formerly organise NCF Indonesia.

On the last day, some participants gave positive feedback on the benefits of the programme. Formal feedback forms were distributed to all the participants and the results would be compiled and feedback to the team in due course. The participants were generally enthusiastic and active in participation.

The Perwakin nurses conducted their lessons well. We challenged the two Indonesian nurses to return for the 2008 trips. They are potentially good future leaders of the team in the coming trips. Furthermore the sessions went more smoothly as there was less time taken for translation. Team members, who worked well together, also had a time of evaluation on the last night of the training. Formal feedback also took place.

Whole Trip Expenditure
Total expenditure for this stage of the project was S$1,619.57

Next part of the programme
Scheduled dates for training in 2008 are during May and October.

Goh Swee Eng - NCFI International Board Member (2004-2008)