Sirelda Jackson – Advocate, Leader- Visionary
Sirelda Jackson is the co-founder and president of the board of the Plataforma Nacional Herencia di Sclavitud na Aruba (PNHSA), which focuses on raising awareness, healing traumas, and promoting restorative justice related to the legacy and effects of slavery in Aruba. Additionally, she is a long-standing board member of the Landelijk Platform Slavernijverleden (LPS), which contributed to the establishment of the commemoration monument of the Dutch trans-Atlantic enslavement trade and slavery, as well as the Netherlands Institute National Slavery Heritage (INNSEE) in Amsterdam. The LPS actively combats racism, Afrophobia, discrimination, and advocates for reparative justice through CARICOM and the United Nations. The LPS also is active in connection with the African Union in which Sirelda is serving on the Advisory board of the African Union Sixth region.
Sirelda’s contributions extend to the engagement and empowerment of civic communities and institutions through lectures, workshops, and organizing community dialogues on African civilization and human rights. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Avance Hogeschool and a lifelong commitment to self-education, particularly in social sciences and humanities.
Sirelda has been honored with multiple awards, including the Knight Oranje Nassau in 2006, which recognizes her exceptional service to society, and the Phenomenal Woman Award in 2011, celebrating her outstanding contributions to social justice and community empowerment and also the Ladyship of Breda in 2012 for being chosen as outstanding volunteer. Additionally, she has received accolades for her work in promoting African and Caribbean heritage and combating discrimination.
We honor the legacy of slavery and its impact on Aruba, the Netherlands, and the African diaspora. Through monuments, education, and advocacy, we promote healing, awareness, and justice, guided by Ubuntu to foster unity, equality, and respect.