Current Project

Currently, NEPAC is engaged in producing a one-hour film on the future of the children of the Moluccan exile community in The Netherlands. Although Moluccans have been living in The Netherlands for over 50 years, they have kept a distinct ethnic identity, strong social and emotional ties with their home islands in Eastern Indonesia, and were long resisting integration into Dutch society. Over the years, they acquired a reputation of being prone to violence and dependent on welfare. Particularly, Moluccan youths are seen as marginal in Dutch society, having a high school dropout rate, widespread drug addiction, gang-membership, low work ethic, and large unemployment.

The upcoming documentary deals with the issues that might be responsible for the endemic difficulties Moluccans as a group appear to have in adjusting to life in Dutch society. By focusing on children and youth, traditional conceptions of integration will be challenged and predictions about the future of Moluccans in The Netherlands will be offered. The film will be released in two versions, a Dutch and an International version. The former utilizes Dutch as medium of communication; the latter is in English and will present additional footage to ascertain that international audiences, not familiar with the Dutch scene, will fully comprehend the storyline.

The Working Title of the documentary is:

“FRIES, BUT SKIP THE HOT SAUCE” / “FRITES, MAAR ZONDER SAMBAL”

Contest!

All visitors to this website are challenged to come up with a catchy title that best describes Moluccan children’s role and/or behavior in present-day Dutch society. Moluccan and other children, as well as their parents, and adolescents are especially encouraged to enter the contest.