On 19 February an information evening about the history of the Moluccas and Moluccan Dutch people in our country took place at Sociaal Centrum De Wieken in Elst. The MHM's Huib Akihary gave a lecture during the well-attended evening.
MONEY FOR VICTIMS
In many Dutch municipalities with a Moluccan community, the council made money available to help earthquake victims in the Moluccas, including in Assen, Barneveld, Den Bosch, Gennep, Tiel, Waalwijk and Wierden. The proposal did not achieve a majority in the council of Overbetuwe. A lack of knowledge about the Moluccan community in Elst was seen as a possible cause of the refusal. Huib Akihary's lecture was to remedy that lack of knowledge.
INFORMATION EVENING
The evening, which began at 20.00, was aimed specifically at Dutch people who want to know more about the Moluccas and Moluccan Dutch people.
Elst resident Freddy Vink saw the evening as a good opportunity to sharpen up his knowledge of the Moluccas. "I see this as a refresher course. Good that there are politicians in the room too. Because they did not exactly cover themselves in glory after last year's earthquake." Mayor Patricia Hoytink-Roubos of the municipality of Overbetuwe was a guest as well.
MONEY FROM THE MUNICIPALITY OF OVERBETUWE FOR REBUILDING SCHOOLS
After the information evening, mayor Patricia Hoytink-Roubos announced that the municipality of Overbetuwe is donating 13,623 euros. Overbetuwe is contributing financially after all to the rebuilding of ten schools in the Moluccas.
Source: De Gelderlander (20-02-2020) / Photo: Bert Beelen
