As part of the Week against Racism, we collaborated with Pakhuis de Zwijger to organise a panel discussion on Monday, March 18th. The focus was on the racism experienced by East, South and Southeast Asian people with an adoption background. Racism is a complex and deeply rooted problem that requires collective effort and understanding. Therefore, this evening was dedicated to having open conversations, learning from each other, and finding connection in the fight against racism!

The evening opened with a powerful spoken word performance by Lily Ni Mei and a moving musical rendition by Liza Hansa, who shared their experiences, providing a beautiful start to the evening. Zoë Horsten then took the floor as the moderator and introduced the panellists: Dilani Butink from Adoptiebedrog, Myranda Hilhorst from De Afhaalchinees, and Xiangxia van den Ham from Dumpling Stories.

They engaged in discussions on various themes related to adoption, such as myths about adoption, racism, identity, and what is needed for a better future. All panellists shared their personal experiences and opinions on these topics. After the discussion, there was a Q&A session where the audience could ask questions and share their own experiences, knowledge, and opinions. It was a bonding moment, people were touched by each other and felt comfortable sharing personal experiences.

The evening was filled with knowledge and connection, in line with the mission of Asian Raisins’ Community Program: healing and growing together. This evening is likely to remain in our memory for a long time.

If you were unable to attend the evening or would like to relive it, you can! The panel discussion was recorded, and you can watch it via this link.

Would you like to volunteer for future events? Please contact the Community Program Coordinator at mai@asianraisins.nl.