Together, Dutch, Indo-European, Indonesian, and Chinese-Indonesian communities bring care, hope, and future opportunities to children in need.
(The Netherlands and Indonesia connected).
The KiDS in Dire Straits Foundation seeks neither to simplify this history nor to use it to create new divisions. We acknowledge that Dutch, Indonesian, Indo-European, Moluccan, and Chinese-Indonesian communities each have their own distinct experiences and perspectives.
By listening and giving space to multiple voices, history can foster understanding and thoughtful collaboration. Our foundation grew out of personal family histories and long-standing ties to Indonesia. That background motivates us to take responsibility today—not by attempting to redress the past through charity, but by supporting equitable, future-oriented collaboration.
Some children of mixed heritage were acknowledged and grew up within a family or community. Others faced rejection, separation from family, discrimination, or uncertainty about their identity. These stories deserve recognition, without painting all families with the same brush or overshadowing the experiences of other population groups. Many Indo-Dutch families carry memories of war, decolonization, migration, and building a new life in the Netherlands. At the same time, distinct memories exist in Indonesia regarding colonial rule, the struggle for independence, loss, and reconstruction. These stories need not compete with one another; they can coexist and contribute to mutual understanding.
From Remembrance to Collaboration
The KiDS Foundation chooses to build a bridge that rests not on guilt or self-justification, but on connection, humility, and responsibility. We believe that people from different communities can work together to create opportunities for children, while keeping the expertise and agency of Indonesian partners at the heart of the effort. In this way, history becomes not merely a simple explanation of the present, but an invitation to listen more carefully, collaborate more honestly, and build the future with respect.
Giving back
For some people, "giving back" can hold a personal meaning: sharing opportunities, knowledge, or resources they have received with others. For Stichting KiDS, however, it does not signify the repayment of a collective debt or a one-way transfer from the Netherlands to Indonesia. To us, it means contributing to humanity and future-oriented collaboration through education, knowledge sharing, financial support, cultural exchange, and partnerships based on equality. In this process, everyone both gives and receives something—whether it be experience, trust, insight, time, expertise, or practical support.
Because this history remains part of family stories, social relations, and the way the Netherlands and Indonesia perceive one another. Understanding different perspectives can foster respect and prevent the unconscious repetition of old patterns.
No. People today are not personally to blame for events in which they were not involved. However, we can take responsibility for the way we listen, speak, and work together today.
Local partners are not merely implementers or recipients; they contribute to thinking about goals, decisions, implementation, and evaluation. Their knowledge of the children and local circumstances serves as the starting point.
Het betekent betrokkenheid omzetten in concrete, zorgvuldige samenwerking. Dat kan via financiële ondersteuning, kennisdeling, vrijwilligerswerk, dialoog en het verbinden van organisaties.
Help orphaned and poor children, orphanages, adoptive families, and schools in need:
Amstelveenseweg 643
1081 JD Amsterdam
The Netherlands
+31 20 64 41 094
info@stichtingkids.org
www.stichtingkids.org
Chamber of Commerce number: 97123994
Rabobank: IBAN NL05RABO 0144851229
Registered as an ANBI since April 28, 2025. Donations, gifts, and bequests are tax-deductible.