The Komma Foundation: Preserving Life Stories Through Video Legacy
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A Dutch foundation is offering solace and enduring connection to families facing terminal illness by creating free, professionally produced video portraits, capturing life stories for generations to come.
For five years, The Komma Foundation, based in Almere, has been dedicated to recording the narratives of individuals confronting end-of-life situations. These videos serve as powerful legacies, offering children and loved ones a tangible connection to those they’ve lost. To date, the foundation has completed approximately 1,500 video portraits, relying heavily on a dedicated network of volunteers.
A Personal Loss Fuels a Powerful Mission
The foundation’s origins are deeply rooted in personal tragedy. Founder Michel de Hond explained that the idea stemmed from the loss of his sister, a recognized figure in the Netherlands as a presenter, writer, and theater maker, and the brothers were the sons of Maurice de Hond, a prominent opinion pollster.
The Art of the Interview: Capturing a Lifetime
The process undertaken by The komma Foundation is both sensitive and thorough. Volunteers, including a cameraman and an interviewer, visit individuals in their homes to conduct extensive interviews. According to foundation representatives, the interviews focus primarily on the subject’s life journey – their upbringing, experiences, and defining moments.
“It truly seems simple, but it is indeed not,” one foundation official stated. Interviewers receive specialized training to facilitate open and meaningful conversations.The foundation recognizes the unique emotional weight of these discussions, especially when addressing sensitive topics like pregnancy and childbirth, offering support to families navigating difficult memories. “An example is that when a mother dies and leaves behind young daughters, we talk about the pregnancy. Were you nauseous? What did you like to eat? we hear that daughters frequently enough have questions about this when they become mothers themselves,” de Hond shared.
A Tangible Legacy for Future Generations
The impact of these videos extends far beyond simply recording memories. For Marielle Lijesen, a young mother from Purmerend facing a terminal illness, the video created by The Komma Foundation offers a profound sense of peace. “The video shows who we are, which is nice,” she said. Her husband, Vincent, added, “It is now clearly captured on screen: how you move, how we react to each other and what your voice sounds like. We may forget that too.”
Marielle described the experience of recording her message to her three children, the youngest of whom is nine years old, as challenging but ultimately rewarding. “Only at the end is it about my illness and I leave a message for all three of my children. That was very difficult to say, but I’m glad I did it,” she explained. Both Marielle and Vincent emphasized the value of having a “tangible” record of their life together.
Finding Peace and Processing Grief
The foundation’s work also provides a unique form of solace for those left behind. De Hond himself finds the process therapeutic, stating, “I think this work is a kind of grieving process for me. Thanks to the foundation, for example, my mother has come into my life much more. I talk about her during conferences, she is on the site.I like that.”
The Komma Foundation operates on a limited budget, relying on donations and the dedication of its volunteers. To raise awareness and funds,the foundation occasionally collaborates with celebrities,creating portraits to garner attention. However, the institution remains committed to its core mission, choosing not to expand into other types of portraiture. “We really stick to our starting point, that is where our strength lies,” a foundation spokesperson confirmed.
For Marielle and Vincent, the video is an invaluable gift. “I hope that if the children miss me, they can watch the video and gain strength from it. That way they can still see and hear me,” Marielle concluded, encapsulating the enduring power of a life story preserved through the compassionate work of The Komma Foundation.