Support for child and youth welfare services: Our first social pedagogues have arrived.

'Landed,' reads the display board at Munich Airport. “They’ll be coming through any moment now,” says Susanne Lüttge, director of the residential school home in Grunertshofen, with excitement. Then the three social pedagogues from Colombia step through the doors of the arrivals hall; their new life in Germany begins.

Staff shortages in child and youth welfare services at St. Vinzentius-Zentralverein

Looking back to the summer of 2025: skilled professionals are lacking at Landschulheim Schloss Grunertshofen. Despite the high demand for places in child and youth welfare services, one fully residential group has to be closed. For this reason, Managing Director Ralph Wirth of St. Vinzentius-Zentralverein, the organization that runs the residential school home, decides with the support of TalentOrange to specifically search abroad for qualified professionals. After several online interviews, the decision is made in favor of three qualified social pedagogues from Colombia: Luisa Blanco, Nataly Rodriguez, and Diana Jaimes. With the goal of living and working in Germany, they complete an intensive language course with TalentOrange. At the language school in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, they study German for several months for up to seven hours a day. After successfully passing the B2 certificate, preparations begin for their entry into Germany.

Highly qualified social pedagogues from Colombia

On May 5, the time has finally come: after more than 15 hours of flight time and with suitcases packed to the brim, Luisa, Nataly, and Diana receive a warm welcome from director Susanne Lüttge and Administrative Manager Thomas Hoffmann. Together, they continue on to Grunertshofen, around 50 minutes away. All three consciously chose a new home far away from the big city. “So beautifully green!” Luisa says happily as the TalentOrange bus drives onto the spacious grounds of the residential school home. She is already familiar with Germany from several previous visits, as her sister studied here and now lives in Austria. Luisa completed her bachelor's degree in education with outstanding grades and then gained several years of experience working with children and adolescents aged four to 17. The desire for a secure life, financial stability, and her enthusiasm for the German language and culture ultimately brought her to Germany.

“We are delighted by how well they already speak German.”

Susanne Lüttge gives them an initial introduction to life on the grounds. They move into their rooms on the top floor and are especially pleased with the refrigerator, which has already been stocked with fresh eggs, avocados, and everything they need for the first few days. With the Welcome Team from TalentOrange, they immediately set up their bank account and German SIM card. “It is exactly as we imagined it,” says Administrative Manager Thomas Hoffmann. “And how well they already speak German—you could tell that they understood everything.”

The three women still have five days to settle in and get to know their new surroundings. On May 11, they begin their work in the child and youth groups at the residential school home. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to be here,” says Diana. Susanne Lüttge is also delighted about the active support and about being able to make more places available again in child and youth welfare services.

We place social pedagogues and social workers in child and youth welfare services

Additional social pedagogues from abroad are currently learning German in TalentOrange language courses in preparation for working in child and youth welfare services in Germany. If you have staffing needs, please feel free to contact Adrian Bartlog.