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The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart. Ambong Malay fills our heart and we just can’t get enough of it. We don’t just want to hear it, but to read it too. Ambong Malay resounds in songs, but is rarely used in poems and novels. If it’s not written, we fear that Ambong Malay might disappear just like so many indigenous languages.
What do we do?
We are Jan, Charlotta and Lise and we love Malay languages. We would love to keep as many Malay languages as possible alive and that is why we have established the ‘Wai Ihu’ foundation. We focus on the language source, the Moluccas and collaborate with many other language lovers.
‘Wai Ihu’ is a word from an indigenous Ambonese language, that has gone extinct. It means ‘kolam aer’ in Ambong Malay, ‘water source’. It’s the name of an ancient water source high on a mountain on the island Ambon in the province Maluku in Indonesia. Just like how water makes plants grow, ‘Wai Ihu’ wants to make Ambong Malay flourish. Ambong Malay has been spoken for hundred of years in the Moluccas in addition of their indigenous languages. In the Moluccas we are working on the introduction of Ambong Malay as a written language, adapted to current events of the present and the future.
With a full stomach and a roof over your head it’s easier to learn to read and to write, therefore we will also work on combating poverty and promoting education.
We support organisations in the Moluccas, like the writers group ‘Timur Menulis’ and the foundation ‘LAPPAN Maluku’ with fundraising. ‘LAPPAN Maluku works on community building. We also develop promotional activities concerning Ambong Malay with and for other language lovers in the Moluccas.
Wai Ihu has raised €4.500,-. Thank you all dear donors!
Thus we introduced in 2023 the children’s book Tikus -Muis. It is bilingual, written in Dutch and Ambong Malay. A team of dedicated professionals wrote, illustrated, translated and designed Tikus-Muis for free. The GoFundMe fundraising was used to fund the printing and shipping. Donors received a book for their contribution. And in January '24 we were able to give free copies to primary schools in the Moluccas.
In January '24, Lise Yian Sui de Fretes, chair person of the Wai Ihu Foundation, presented Tikus to local schools, language-loving activists, journalists, writers, and even the radio station RRI Ambon in the Moluccas. Just like in the Netherlands, our book was enthusiastically received.
The well-known writer Theoresia Rumthe organized a meeting with journalists and writers in Ambon City to talk about Tikus-Mouse. They stayed up all night collecting all kinds of Ambong Malay expressions and words. Program maker Vera Souhoka of RRI Ambon made a lively broadcast about Tikus, Wai Ihu and Theoresia Rumthe, the entire program was broadcast in Ambong Malay.
We are very happy with the reception in the Moluccas, as we hoped it sparked the enthusiasm of Moluccan writers to write in Ambong Malay themselves.
Education
Since February '24 a group of young writers from the writers' circle 'Timur Menulis' applied 'Tikus-Muis' in their activities in secondary schools. They give free reading and writing lessons to promote literacy. 'Tikus-Muis' can now also be found in various reading corners of libraries and village halls in the Moluccas. At the invitation of 'Timur Menulis' Lise gave free online workshops in April '24 about the Dutch Children’s books and the use of Ambong Malay.
Combating Poverty
Wai Ihu also visited her partner organisation 'Yayasan LAPPAN Maluku' in Ambon in January. Baihajar Tualeka is chair person, she is a member of 'The Ashoka Fellowship', a prestigious international network of social entrepreneurs. Search | Ashoka
The ‘LAPPAN Maluku’ Foundation works to combat poverty; trajectories in education, health, food supply and self-reliance.
Would you like to support us?
Contact us on [email protected] and buy the book, €18,95 (excluding postage cost). All proceeds will only be used to fund our activities in the Netherlands and the Moluccas, not our travels and accommodation costs.
Thank you.
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