The Indo Project Celebrates 15 Years of Success

The Indo Project (TIP) is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary this month!  We want to express our sincere thanks to our loyal supporters and incredible all-volunteer TIP team without whose collective efforts we would not have been able to reach this important milestone. To think that when the founders started the organization, all they had was a drive to educate those who were seeking information about their Indo ancestry and instill pride in their Indo history and culture … with little money to back them. TIP Co-Founder and Chair Priscilla Kluge-McMullen noted, “Our supporters came through in helping make TIP the premier Indo nonprofit providing resources that thousands consult.” 

Our Journey: The First Decade

Since its inception fifteen years ago, TIP has stayed true to its mission and has succeeded in bringing the Indo community together through various means. TIP’s Facebook page was one of the earliest created on social media which celebrated the people of the former Dutch East Indies and Indos more generally. TIP remains deeply committed to educating individuals eager to learn more about their ancestors and ancestry in the former Dutch East Indies. TIP Vice Chair Jeff Keasberry added, “As we celebrate TIP’s fifteenth anniversary, we want to acknowledge the contributions of co-founders and former board members Bianca Dias-Halpert and the late Jan Krancher. Their work in the early years greatly supported the development of The Indo Project.”

The TIP website, launched in 2009, has continuously provided resources to students, new generations born outside the former Dutch East Indies, individuals searching for connections to their history, and scholars. Keasberry stated, “The key to our success is staying focused on our mission. Despite challenges, we’ve built a strong team committed to serving the greater good, moving forward steadily and purposefully.”

In its  first ten years, TIP brought you TIPTalks, film premieres, international Herdenking participation, Kumpulans and involvement in a number of other outreach events that have drawn the Indo community together, unifying them. Where there was once a reticence to use the word Indo, TIP launched the INDO PRIDE campaign whose slogan is now used everywhere. “I’m most proud of TIP’s impact in educating and inspiring younger generations to take pride in their heritage and culture, reconnect with others, and support new social groups. TIP popularized the slogan ‘INDO PRIDE’ internationally, fostering unity and a sense of belonging for a diverse community,” noted Keasberry.

But TIP didn’t stop there. We have taken things to the next level! Keep reading to find out what we have done in the last five years!

Building on Success: The Last Five Years

Online Resources

We are always enhancing the experience for our followers. In 2020, TIP launched a rebranding initiative, revamping both its logo and website. The updated site is now fresh, modern, and more comprehensive, providing a stronger connection to knowledge and resources. With the new layout, it’s also fully optimized for mobile, making it easy to access from anywhere, anytime. Our resources remain available to you 24/7.

TIP has recently restructured its website by creating dedicated pillar pages for key resource categories. Now, you can easily explore a wealth of related stories on topics such as World War II, the Bersiap period, the diaspora from the Dutch East Indies, transgenerational trauma, and the rich cultural heritage of the Indo community. The resources you need to research your family history are just a few clicks away.

In-Person Events

Our participation continues with in-person events like the annual Holland Festival in Long Beach, which is, in effect, the largest gathering of Dutch-Americans with roots in the former Dutch East Indies. Since 2023, TIP has also hosted special occasions such as the ‘Herdenking’ (Commemoration) of the 15 August 1945 ceremonies and the ‘Bevrijdingsball’ (Liberation Ball).

At this new event hosted by TIP, we also present The Indo Project Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring someone whose contributions reflect the values of service, sacrifice, and dedication that we commemorate in those who fought in WWII. Two devoted Indo supporters have been honored so far: the late René Creutzburg, publisher of De Indo magazine, and Mrs. Henny Neys, a philanthropist and founder and chair of the Alan Neys Memorial Fund.

New Podcast: Echoes of the Archipelago

We’re excited to announce that this year, we launched our new podcast, Echoes of the Archipelago! It is a new way for us to connect with the Indo community, those who share a history with the former Dutch East Indies. Host Gerald van Wilgen invites members of the diaspora community and beyond to join him in reflecting on their experiences and exploring the challenges of preserving their disappearing culture in a changing world.

This podcast serves as a platform for discussion and reflection on the triumphs and struggles of migration and cultural preservation. Through these conversations, we aim to reveal the rich tapestry of culture, history, and identity that defines this community. The podcasts explore a variety of topics, including immigration to America, transgenerational trauma, discovering Indo roots, and the expressionism of Indo-ism art. Stay tuned—there are more engaging episodes being released very soon!

Join 15 for 15 Campaign

With your continuing support, TIP can achieve more! What can you do? Consider joining us in our 15 for 15 Campaign! 

• Become a monthly donor at $15 per month this 15th anniversary year 
• Make a one-time $15 donation 
• Volunteer 15 hours for us this year 
• Come and work for one of TIP’s outreach events, join a committee, research an article on our history, interview your elders. 

Imagine what we can accomplish in the next fifteen years as we continue to expand our influence and pass The Indo Project’s efforts onto future generations. We recently added the word “unified” to our mission statement because we believe that by standing together, we can honor and preserve the shared histories of those connected to the former Dutch East Indies.   

Kluge-McMullen noted, “There’s still so much important work ahead of us! We encourage you to contribute your time, treasure and talent to ensure the growth of TIP from its humble beginnings to the strong foundation that exists today and beyond. Join us in our mission! “

Vision for the Future

TIP’s goal moving forward is to be the go-to resource for everything related to the Indo community and those with connections and shared histories with the former Dutch East Indies. We pursue this by:

• maintaining digital archives by digitizing the historical accounts of our elders before that opportunity is lost
• continuing to provide scholarly resources and to provide scholarly inspiration to ensure the historical relevance of the people of the former Dutch East Indies, 
• continuing forming new coalitions and 
• galvanizing the Indo community to act together to ensure future generations can identify their culture with knowledge and pride! 

With gratitude. Dankuwel. Terima kasih.

The Indo Project Team