Health is more than medicine—it is deeply connected to education, the environment, economic well-being, and the strength of a community.
In 2026, Chang Jung Christian University's (CJCU) University Social Responsibility (USR) team continued its "Taiwan Experience, Indonesian Practice" initiative by partnering with Universitas Kristen Papua (UKIP) and SMKS Kesehatan Pelita Sorong for the "International Collaboration for Better Healthcare" program. Through health education, hands-on learning, and community service, the three institutions worked side by side to create a model of international collaboration where students learned not only from textbooks, but also from one another.
Founded by Dr. Agus under the Pelita Foundation, SMKS Kesehatan Pelita Sorong is a vocational school dedicated to educating future healthcare professionals in nursing and pharmacy. Together, the three schools explored a shared vision: preparing compassionate healthcare professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills, and social responsibility to serve their communities.
The program began with the CARE Reusable Sanitary Pad Workshop, where participants learned about menstrual health while sewing reusable cloth menstrual pads. The reusable cloth menstrual pad material kits used in the activities were jointly donated by Makalot Industrial Co., Ltd. and eight of its partner suppliers. More than a practical skill, the workshop demonstrated how a simple solution can improve women's health, reduce environmental waste, and ease financial burdens on families.
Principal Mrs. Cindy Annike, S.Pd., M.Pd., shared that the CARE program teaches students far more than sewing. "It is a lesson in health, sustainability, and everyday life. By reducing disposable waste and household expenses, students realize that small actions can create lasting change."
The CJCU team also introduced acupressure massage as an accessible way to promote daily wellness. The interactive sessions were enthusiastically received, and local teachers noted that these practical healthcare skills could even inspire future entrepreneurship, combining health education with economic opportunity.
Another highlight of the collaboration was the community health screening, where CJCU nursing students worked alongside Indonesian students to provide blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and uric acid screenings, while also promoting women's health and disease prevention. Rather than simply delivering services, the activity became a shared learning experience. Taiwanese students took on the role of mentors, Indonesian students gained hands-on clinical experience, and UKIP faculty connected the program with local communities, creating a meaningful partnership across universities, vocational schools, and the communities they serve.
Prof. Chen Kai-Li of CJCU emphasized that the project was never about exporting Taiwan's experience. Instead, it was about learning together and discovering how healthcare can better respond to local community needs while connecting health, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience.
From promoting menstrual health and reusable sanitary pads to introducing preventive healthcare and community health screenings, the collaboration demonstrated that healthcare extends far beyond treating illness—it begins with education, prevention, and caring for one another.
Looking ahead, CJCU will continue strengthening its partnership with UKIP and SMKS Kesehatan Pelita Sorong through academic exchange, professional training, and international community engagement. Together, the three institutions hope to nurture globally minded, socially responsible healthcare professionals and ensure that CARE becomes more than a project—it becomes a shared language connecting Taiwan and Indonesia, universities and communities, and health with a more sustainable future.
