A Year of Commemoration
This year 2023-24 has been declared a Year of Commemoration of the Slavery Past of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The times of colonization, the slavery past and migration are undeniably closely related. Our Foundation Academy of Amsterdam is a living proof of this relation and is involved in this relationship, since long and in several ways, in all our three schools.
The School of Global Studies incorporated Slavery Studies, Transatlantic Slavery and Human Trafficking, and Modern Slavery in its curriculum. Also Migration Studies, including Migration from a Religious Perspective, is part of the study plan.
Our Foundation Academy of Amsterdam is a living proof of this relation and is involved in education on slavery, since long and in several ways, in all our three schools.
The School of Integrated Human Rights is, obviously, focusing on Human Rights, with the objective “to enhance knowledge and understanding, building skills and connecting the human rights to the experience, life, and future of the students, understanding global linkages and inter-dependencies, and to build skills for protecting and promoting the human rights of others.”
This year we also celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings.
The School of Theology offers programs at different levels for church leaders and members of migrant communities in which theology is contextualized referring to the missionary past, presence and perspectives, taking into consideration the involvement of churches in the colonial and slavery past.
The Year of Commemoration of the Slavery Past of the Kingdom of the Netherlands started on the 1st of July, with the commemoration and celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in Suriname and the Dutch Antilles, officially in 1863, 160 years ago, and practically in 1873, 150 years ago. Since 2002, the year the National Monument of the Slavery Past, in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam, was inaugurated, the 1st July, Keti Koti day, the day of the ‘breaking of the chains’ is being commemorated and celebrated nationwide, not only in Amsterdam, also in a growing number of cities all over the Netherlands.
This year’s Keti Koti was really historical because of the public apologies, expressed by the King, preceded by apologies by the government, worded by Prime Minister Rutte, last year December 19. In addition to his apologies, the King asked for forgiveness. Forgiveness is an important word, a word of Biblical significance, perhaps even more important than apology. More than a word it is a personal confession, a personal gesture. But what does it mean? What does it mean for all those who have to find their way in the Netherlands?
Is it a new beginning – and if so: how is this a new beginning? Let us hope so. The elections on November 22nd will be important in this respect too.
It is this place, Foundation Academy of Amsterdam, the place where people - students, lecturers, this whole unique community - can claim the words of the King, his asking for forgiveness, after Rutte stated that apologies do not mean a dot (end of a sentence) but a comma, a connecting mark. So, this Year of Commemoration is the year to help the King and the government by giving meaning to these words.
Foundation Academy of Amsterdam, is the place where people - students, lecturers, this whole unique community - can claim the words of the King, his asking for forgiveness, after Rutte stated that apologies do not mean a dot (end of a sentence) but a comma, a connecting mark.
In this year of commemoration we are invited (officially by the government) -to learn (and to do research)
about the past (including about the churches and the slavery past),
to develop and design educational materials, modules and courses
to promote processes of healing and
organize (inter)national networks and platforms, conferences and workshops
Let us claim our position – our place: as a result of colonization, slavery past and migration, we are here.
Foundation Academy of Amsterdam will do, through the three schools, through this learning community of students and lecturers, we are here to work together and cooperate for a better world for all of us, - to quote the King: “a world without racism, discrimination and economic exploitation. Working together on healing, reconciliation and repair.”
Tjeerd de Boer, 09-09-2023