Photos taken by Our Heritage.

Rubien Kalaykhan is going to make a particularly inspiring trip! During the opening event of Our HERHeritage on November 21, 2024, a special draw took place, during which a ticket of the Surinamese Aviation Company (SLM) was given away. Unfortunately, winners could not make the ticket with the accompanying HERITAGE trip out of illness and conflicts of interest. After careful consultation with the airline, the wheel was turned again and a one times ticket was available for this - and this time the fate fell on Rubien!

Not so long ago Rubien called that she could not continue with the Our Heritage trajectory. She experienced too many challenges because of her autism. She came to all the meetings, no matter how much trouble she sometimes took. She stayed connected and did everything she could to bring her participants' trajectory to a successful conclusion. Until it stopped. Our Heritage would not be Our Heritage if the team did not jump in immediately to offer all possible help, thanks to our partners, so Rubien could still have her ancestors portrayed. This underlines the power of community and how essential inclusiveness, and accessibility is within initiatives like Our Heritage. The sense of community kinship is a strong connecting element between Suriname and Guyana.

In her interview for EnToday, she mentioned her search for origin and family history. It goes beyond genealogy; it is a profound process of identity building and self-acceptance. Her mixed background, with both Asian and Afro-Surinamese influences, has guided her through different cultural and historical layers. The discovery of the value of her non-Western name and the story of her mother testifies to her deep respect for her history. The obstacles Rubien encountered in the Netherlands with the pronouncement of her name are recognisable to many with a non-Western background. Her personal encounters with her name, especially in an environment where it was not understood or pronounced, left a deep impression on her. It is painful to always notice that your name, which is an essential part of your identity and history, is not treated with respect or understanding. This pain becomes all the stronger when she sees similar experiences in her children. Her choice to embrace her name with pride, despite these challenges, is a powerful symbol of self-acceptance. Read more in her interview on EnToday. 

"I am grateful and overwhelmed."