Ode to Habiba Bouanan | You have an important meaning for many women

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Dear Habiba Bouanan,

Years ago, I first learnt the name Habiba, such a beautiful name. The meaning is ‘Beloved’ and comes from the Arabic language. Some time later, I came into contact with the Amsterdam Neighbourhood Women. I was asked to volunteer in Amsterdam East to give Dutch language lessons to Dutch women with a migrant background, in their homes. As it turned out, most of the women were not born in the Netherlands and all these women were eager to learn Dutch to further develop themselves and their children. A world opened up for me then: the lesson participants were increasingly able to become part of our society and I gained a lot of knowledge about other cultures, religions and lifestyles. It was through these language lessons that I first heard about you.

You have lived with your family in the Oosterpark neighbourhood for over 23 years and are the founder and director of the Prachtvrouw (Beautiful Woman) Foundation. This foundation aims to support the many Dutch women with a migration background in their development and emancipation process. You achieve this through individual contacts, but also through group meetings and various projects. You work well in Amsterdam and you are perfectly capable of improvising and switching workplaces. 

You have an important meaning for many women. One of them, Hanan, recently told me her story. She was married off as a young woman to a man in Amsterdam. Without her own family, she arrived in Amsterdam at the time and soon got married. She unfortunately noticed, that her husband not only smoked, but also appeared to use narcotics, which had a major impact on her and her young family. Hanan had 3 sons and suffered from major tensions in her marriage. She could not turn to anyone with her grief, fear and questions, until Hanan met you and you literally came alongside her. You had conversations with Hanan's husband. Eventually, her husband had accepted professional help for his addiction. Unfortunately, her husband died suddenly after that and Hanan found herself alone with her boys. Even then you supported and advised her, after some time I was able to teach Hanan Dutch and we got closer and closer. Hanan has since moved on to classroom education; she and her sons are now doing very well and we are deeply grateful for that. You have now expanded the Prachtvrouw Foundation and a colleague is in contact with Hanan.

You are very visible in Amsterdam Oost; we meet each other when recruiting volunteers and at festive occasions. The great thing is that so often there are delicious oriental snacks, prepared with love by the many women, including Hanan.

I am pleasantly surprised that since last year you have been working as coordinator for the Odensehuis, in Transvaal, Oosterpark and Dapper neighbourhood. Dementia can also develop in migrant elderly people. Unfortunately, there is a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding about it and dementia seems to be a taboo. You are committed to raising awareness about dementia and offering support to informal carers. With your knowledge of the networks in Amsterdam Oost, you are well placed to bring formal and informal care, clients and their informal carers into contact with each other. Just to mention the address of the Odensehuis: Ontmoetingscentrum Dapperhart, Dapperplein 84 in Amsterdam Oost.

To me, you are a true Amsterdam Prachtvrouw, who continuously develops and responds to the questions, problems and needs in our society. Well worth an Ode in the context of Amsterdam 750 years old!

I would like to wish you all the best on your life's journey, lots of fun and I hope we will continue to meet regularly in Amsterdam Oost!

Kind regards,

Carin te Hoonte

Volunteer ABC- De Regenboog / Geheugen van Oost