My name is Alaisa Jennie-Vlegaard and I live in Dordrecht with my husband Rudmar and our daughter Jaeda. The inspiration for this book began when I became a mother.

During my pregnancy and the early months of motherhood I pondered how I could pass on the rich Indonesian culture to my daughter.

The name "Oma Indo," used in the book comes from my mother, Josephine Nijhof-van Tienen, whom my daughter affectionately calls by this name. This led to naming our self-publishing venture "Uitgeverij Oma Indo."

My mother imparted various Indonesian customs to my sister and me, but we never really learned the language. I was determined to change this for my daughter.

Growing up, my sister and I had a Dutch ABC book that our mother often read to us, ending with a dramatic flair on the letter Z. This cherished memory inspired me to create a similar book for Jaeda.

When my daughter was a few months old I asked my mother if an Indonesian ABC book existed. We discovered an outdated version online which prompted my mother and me to create a new, modern version.

In June 2021 we learned that my mother was terminally ill. This news motivated me to turn our written ABC into a book, initially as a keepsake for Jaeda.

As we progressed I realized that this book could be enjoyable and educational for all generations, regardless of their Indonesian heritage.

"Het Indonesisch ABC" symbolizes the fusion of three generations into one story and one book. It represents the transmission of Indonesian culture and the uniting of generations, creating a timeless legacy.

Meanwhile we've expanded our offerings with additional merchandise, including T-shirts, tote bags and stickers to share and celebrate Indonesian culture with younger generations in a fun and engaging way.