Voem vzw
Voem was founded in 1989 as the Association for Islamic Teachers in Flanders (VILV), with the original mission of officially recognizing Islamic education in Belgium. The organization quickly became a key player in the broader intercultural dialogue between Belgian society and the various Muslim communities.
Today, Voem remains a leading player in Flanders' socio-cultural landscape. While the organization remains inspired by the Islamic world, it no longer focuses solely on interfaith dialogue. Instead, Voem encourages young creators who blend their cultural heritage with modern forms of expression, such as calligraphy-based graffiti or electronic music interwoven with traditional Arabic sounds.
From archive management to Digidaar
Around 2018, Voem approached Amsab-ISG to consider preserving their heritage. This led to the inventory of Voem's diverse collection, which reflects over thirty years of political and cultural engagement. Historian Tina De Gendt also brought this history to life in a book highlighting Voem's role within the broader migrant community in Belgium.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Voem moved its operations to DiverzCity , a virtual meeting place. There, the idea of making its heritage digitally accessible was born. This led to the creation of Digidaar in a dynamic way.
A participatory process
To develop Digidaar, we spoke with both the founders and the younger generation at Voem. In a participatory process spanning several months, we explored how the heritage community itself wanted to shape this space. We started from the existing archive at Amsab-ISG, but also collaborated to find new documents – many of which can still be found in Voem's old office.
Digitalization and thematic choices
To display the collection in Digidaar , the paper archive first had to be digitized. This has already been accomplished with approximately 130 archival documents, totaling some 9,000 pages. These are primarily administrative documents such as annual reports, grant applications, and materials related to the Emancipation Award, but also include Voem publications such as brochures, newsletters, and magazines, as well as internal files on specific projects.
When selecting the pieces, we prioritized themes that emerged Digidaar poetry , calligraphy , and other artistic forms that still play a role in Voem today receive special attention. At the same time, we focused on historically significant themes such as education , Muslim cemeteries , the headscarf debate , and peace campaigns .
You can now view and search the digitized sources in their entirety thanks to OCR technology.
View the inventory in the online catalog
Progress of the digitalization process
The digitization process is still in full swing. The wide variety of material requires different approaches, meaning certain components will only be available later. For example, the magazine De Wegwijzer not yet online, but that will follow in the coming months.
With Digidaar, we are taking an important step together with Voem towards an accessible, digital and vibrant heritage platform that connects the past, present and future.
