Nowhere Kitchen 17
Theme: Food. Refuge. Home away from home
Title: Seeking Refuge In Food
Step into a canvas of compassion at our exclusive dinner event set in an art space, the culminating masterpiece of this year's Nowhere Kitchen.
Two voices echo from the corridors of humanitarianism, unraveling their experiences working with refugees in Malaysia. In this immersive setting, where art meets advocacy, we implore you not to look away. It's more than a meal; it's a visceral encounter with untold stories.
Join us as we conclude the last Nowhere Kitchen of the year, where the brushstrokes of empathy paint a portrait of resilience. A feast for the senses, a finale for the heart.
The Nowhere Kitchen team in action
What Is Nowhere Kitchen & How Does It Work? A bunch of like-minded individuals have come together to curate the Nowhere Kitchen experience at temu house. There's always a great topic during dinner. There's always great speakers to kick start the discussions.
But, it's also on you.. the audience to be part of this collaborative dinner experience.
We need you to participate in this dinner by bringing a little bit of your pantry leftovers (not a half eaten sandwich please!)
The NK team will document these items and start working their magic in the kitchen. Trust us, they work wonders!
Meanwhile, at the front of house... our speakers will kick start some interesting conversations! And boy have we got a great line up for you this time round!
Julie Das founder & project director (Greater Action)
humanitarian
As a French-native who has spent a cumulative 20 years in Malaysia, Julie has been able to answer humanitarian calls in various nations.
With a background in Education, it was fitting that Julie began this journey in 2009 with Balo, an education-focused organization in Kolkata, India. Their mission is to provide free education, medical care and nutritious food to 270 underprivileged children in a slum. She worked as a volunteer teacher, fundraiser and since then has been responsible for the entire South East Asia region.
Between 2012 to 2017, she continued teaching children and young adults, began a yoga teacher training course and gained deeper knowledge of alternative medicine in Kuala Lumpur. Whilst doing this, she volunteered for numerous social projects with Myanmarese refugee communities, supporting them with events planning and fundraising. Furthermore, she opened a responsible travel agency that supports social projects in various countries.
After relocating to Yangon, Myanmar following a return to Malaysia, Julie was able to develop Linkage, a vocational training project in F&B that targeted at-risk teenagers.
As Julie moved back to Kuala Lumpur in 2017, she was able to form close relations with the refugee communities in her area, in particular with Afghan women, through consistent food distribution drives.
The global pandemic severely impacted the refugee communities, leaving them with no source of income- unable to feed their families, pay rent and cover medical needs.
Noticing a lack of local support for these vulnerable communities, Julie established Greater Action in March 2020 to provide day-to-day solutions to all refugee or in-need communities in and around Kuala Lumpur.
Today, Greater Action is proud to support 250 families with education, livelihood, health/mental care, and women empowerment programs.
Farzana Yakta director (Parastoo Theatre)
actress
Originally from Afghanistan, Farzana came to Malaysia with her family in 2014. She started acting with Parastoo theater in 2017.
Since then, she has played the main lead in many shows written and directed by Saleh Sepas. Farzana starred in Screaming in Silent and And Then Comes Spring. In the latest play, Red Soil of Kabul, she worked backstage alongside Saleh, who she considers to be her mentor in Parastoo Theatre.
As a refugee here, Malaysia is a good country with a different culture and nice food... but it is still hard, as we are still struggling even to receive or access basic human rights.
I have always wanted to do more than acting. When I was a kid, I had this goal of building a safe place for children, girls, and women to come and stay and call it home. A place where they can get opportunities to start a better life for themselves.
I have always wanted to help because I understand how it feels to be hopeless and alone. When you are a woman, society will always doubt your capabilities or not take you seriously.
I hope that I can make Parastoo a place where people will always feel welcome to join the classes or workshops, to find connection, community, and to feel safe and optimistic about their future. I want people to know that whatever they are going through, they are not alone. Parastoo is with them, and I am with them.
Farzana is the new director of Parastoo Theatre.
Date: 16th Dec 2023 (Saturday)
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Location: temu house
Address: 49, Jalan 16/9e, Seksyen 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor