I am a second-generation Indo, born in Jakarta. My parents, Anton F. Steenkamp and Christien Paulus Steenkamp, were born in Indonesia. In 1955, the family of five were repatriated to the Netherlands, where a younger sister was born. After seven years of cold winters and temperate summers in Den Haag, the family of parents, two sons and two daughters immigrated to Boston, MA, USA, where the summers were certainly warmer but the winters were similar if not colder.
Educated in New England and graduating with an MBA and M.Ed., I have spent the last 40 years in secondary and higher education in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. I have held several Senior Director positions in Technology, Program Development, Program Evaluations and Student Recruitment.
In retirement, my interest in discovering my parental roots, my Indo culture and my heritage re-surfaced. I discovered that my great-grandfather immigrated to Padang, West Sumatra, from Deventer, Netherlands, in the late 1800s. This interest led me to more research and learning about The Indo Project. After a wonderful and initial conversation with TIP’s Chair, I found that my background in non-profits, finance, fundraising and business could benefit the organization. And thus began my relationship with The Indo Project.
