Humanitarian Day 2025 Celebrated in Amsterdam Honoring Global Changemakers

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September 29, 2025

On September 4, 2025

The Amsterdam Church of Scientology commemorated Humanitarian Day 2025 by recognizing Shantha Dalumagage, Morgana Sythove, and Ineke Hilhorst for their exceptional work in human rights, interfaith dialogue, and social action.

A Ceremony Focused on Service and Compassion

Amsterdam, Netherlands — August 23, 2025 — The volunteer spirit of compassion and service was front and center Saturday afternoon during the annual Humanitarian Awards ceremony in Amsterdam. Honored at the ceremony, held at the Chapel of the Church of Scientology of Amsterdam, were leaders, activists, and community members who have made a difference in the lives of others through their work and dedication to humanity and positive social change.

Hosted by the Church of Scientology of Amsterdam

Hosted by the acclaimed ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) Church of Scientology of Amsterdam, this year’s ceremony recognized three outstanding individuals: Shantha Dalumagage, Morgana Sythove, and Ineke Hilhorst.

Inspired by the Vision of L. Ron Hubbard

The honorees received their awards from Gerbrig Deinum, Public Affairs Director of the Amsterdam Church of Scientology, during a ceremony that was inspired by the humanitarian ideals of L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology’s founder, who instructed that “my own philosophy is that one should share what wisdom he has, one should help others to help themselves and one should keep going despite heavy weather, for there is always a calm ahead.”

Interfaith Cooperation and Global Peace Efforts

Adding to the significance of the occasion, Eric Roux, Global Chair of the United Religions Initiative (URI), traveled from Brussels to attend and speak about URI’s worldwide efforts to promote interfaith cooperation and peace-building. The presence of URI members highlighted the international impact of the awardees’ work.

Honoring Efforts to Improve Lives

Each of the Humanitarian Award recipients was honored for their distinct and far-reaching achievements—from global human rights movements to interfaith dialogue and community social activism that promotes compassion and understanding.

Shantha Dalumagage: Advocating for Human Rights in Sri Lanka

The first award of the day went to Shantha Dalumagage, a lawyer and the founder of the Mission Lanka Foundation, which is committed to promoting human rights in Sri Lanka.

In close collaboration with United for Human Rights International, Shantha has led projects that range from raising awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, enhancing education for rural communities, and empowering women.

Aside from education and campaigning, his foundation gives access to clean drinking water, sanitation services, and free legal representation for those who cannot afford them. Shantha has also been vocal about environmental concerns, campaigning against ecocide—extensive damage to the environment and ecosystems.

His human rights approach is holistic and focuses not just on individual liberties but also on the overall welfare of groups of people, and for this reason, he is a deserving and inspiring recipient of the Humanitarian Award 2025.

“Shantha has worked tirelessly to help improve the lives of innumerable people in Sri Lanka,” said Gerbrig Deinum. “His work is an exemplary model of what it is to serve humanity.”

Morgana Sythove: Building Bridges Across Faiths

The second recipient of an award was Morgana Sythove, recognized for her worldwide role as a spiritual leader and Global Trustee of the United Religions Initiative (URI), an international organization working towards creating peace and understanding among different religious and spiritual traditions.

Morgana is a prominent spokesperson of the folk religious movement and an internationally focused Wiccan priestess. Her activity is aimed at bridging people of different religions, building eco-spiritual communities, advocating humanitarian causes, and promoting women’s rights and ecological justice.

She has advocated these causes on the world stage, addressing multiple times at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, including historic convenings in Barcelona and Toronto. Through these public appearances and her travels around the world, Morgana has emerged as a powerful opinion leader within the interfaith community.

In her address, Morgana spoke about Paganism, describing how the Dutch term heiden—”heathen” in its most common translation—had a different meaning originally, “from the heath”, and referred to a relationship with nature and with the divine, not away from belief.

“It is something about understanding the cycle of the moon and the cycles of nature,” she said. “It is far from being non-spiritual; it’s a deep expression of respect for life.

Her prize was bestowed in the company of numerous URI members, such as Eric Roux, highlighting the global network of cooperation and harmony she embodies.

Ineke Hilhorst: Creativity, Compassion, and Community

The third award was given to Ineke Hilhorst, a multifaceted pioneer whose professional experience ranges from documentary filmmaking and television production to coaching and community strategy. Ineke’s projects bridge the past and present through creativity and storytelling that enables connection and understanding.

Some of her most significant contributions include the construction of tolerance-promoting monuments, like “Vreemde Vogels” (Strange Birds) in Amsterdam and “De Drie Mannetjes” (The Three Little Men) in Laren. They are not inert memorials; they come with yearly series of discussion panels, lectures, and educational events by way of projects such as the Table for Tolerance, so that they are “living monuments” that remain actively engaged with the public.

Her humanitarianism goes far beyond her local efforts. Ineke has been involved in refugee support causes, even assisting an Afghan women’s activist to flee from the Taliban and gain refuge in Germany.

Her combination of creativity, commitment, and caring has empowered communities and encouraged untold others to act, making her a most worthy recipient of the Humanitarian Award 2025.

A Celebration of Service and Humanity

The ceremony embodied the values at the core of Humanitarian Day: service, compassion, and unity. The visibility of international visitors and local community leaders underscored the interconnectivity of the world today and the collective responsibility to respond to humanitarian issues.

During the awards, Gerbrig Deinum underscored the potential for individual action to bring about positive change:

These awards celebrate individuals whose deeds represent the best of humankind,” she added. “In celebrating their deeds, we encourage others to step forward and help build a more compassionate and peaceful world.”

European representative Ivan Arjona of the Church of Scientology also came to the ceremony and commended the awardees for their dedication to service:

“These people remind us that change comes from individuals who are compassionate and courageous. Their efforts fit with our mission to create a world in which human rights and dignity are valued everywhere,” Arjona stated.

The night ended in warm applause for the recipients, a tribute to the strength of visionaries who spend their lives serving others.

Inspired by L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology’s Global Mission

The action was inspired by the humanitarian ideals of L. Ron Hubbard, who taught that real value comes through helping others. It is also fundamental to the international efforts spearheaded by Mr. David Miscavige, the spiritual leader of the Scientology religion, whose leadership has carried the Church’s humanitarian efforts internationally to historic heights.

The Church of Scientology Amsterdam, being the official host organization, continues to support initiatives that help educate, uphold human rights, and strengthen communities. The Humanitarian Awards is a living embodiment of this mission and honors people whose contributions make the world a better place to live.

“The achievements of Shantha, Morgana, and Ineke are proof that each of us has the power to create positive change,” added Ivan Arjona. “They are an inspiration to us all.”

Company Details

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release Id: 04092533456