Dapur Jalanan KL Vounteering Experience

Here we are, back again for another episode of Sunday volunteering amid my crazy schedule.

This time around, my friends and I have decided to spend our Sunday with Dapur Jalanan, a food preparation and distribution project for the community in central KL. The sweltering Malaysian heat was killing all of us when we arrived at Kelab Bangsar Utama- just some 30 metres away from Bangsar/Bank Rakyat LRT Station. It was a slightly rundown row of shop lots, which contrasted the modern railway station and high rise buildings in the surrounding. 

When we were briefed of our agenda of the day, excitement was evident across faces. Our tasks were rather direct: prepare ingredients, cook a meal and then distribute the food near downtown KL. The management team was easily outnumbered by our group of volunteers, which made our presence feel extremely important as the list of action plans could not be completed without extra pairs of hands, despite sounding as easy as a three-step project. 

Swiftly, our volunteers unpacked freshly purchased vegetables, diced chicken and sliced bags of fishcakes, in prep to make hot noodle soup.

Every pair of hands busied themselves in an orderly manner- it seemed like everyone had plenty of experience in the kitchen. What a relief! I certainly did not want to hear chore-related complaints from my adult friends.

When the ingredients were ready, the cooking began! Onions, freshly blended chili, garlic and cloves were fried till fragrance filled up the room.

We took turns holding the spatula, stirring the content in the pot, afraid of getting anything burnt. Then the diced chicken was the next to be tossed into the pot, while the stirring continued.

Water was added and left to boil to become what we used as the broth for our noodles, before the rest of the ingredients were added. 

The cooking was not a challenge and I was glad to see my friends bonding, chatting about life and work, while contributing to relieving the management team’s stress. It did not take us too long to cook what was for around 130 people to eat- we completed all the food preparation work by 2pm despite starting as late as around 12.30pm.

After a quick lunch break, the management team sat us down for a sharing about Dapur Jalanan. We learnt that Kelab Bangsar Utama used to be a venue where youths gather to discuss current issues and organise non-partisan political and intellectual discourse. Food distribution started back in 2013, under their Street Project Kuala Lumpur. It aimed to support some of the homeless and raise awareness on urban poverty. In fact, Dapur Jalanan refers their food recipients as ‘clients’ or simply the ‘community’. This roots from the recognition of their clients not necessarily being homeless, or jobless. The project aims to share food with anyone who would take it, as an act of sharing and kindness.

Catering to their sub-mandate of appreciating the heritage in Kuala Lumpur, food distribution is held at Jalan Panggong, which is one of the most historical parts of the city. Located near Petaling Street and what was once the oldest post office in Malaysia but now a go-to spot for OOTD photos, Kafe Dian, Jalan Panggong is no stranger to tourists. For Dapur Jalanan, it’s the collective memories at the location that made the management team feel nostalgic. They have watched buildings washed by signs of the times receive makeovers and new modern structures being constructed. The only constant seemed to be Dapur Jalanan itself, continuing to serve the community every Sunday. 

As we arrived at Jalan Panggong with all the food items, we quickly divided ourselves into three groups: serving food, serving drinks and washing utensils. Yes, what they do differently compared to other organistations such as Pertiwi and Kechara is that they serve hot meals at a fixed spot rather than delivering pre-packed meals around the city. This not only targets providing their clients the feeling of eating at a restaurant, it was also a good way to connect with them. 

Dapur Jalanan used to pre-pack their food in polystyrene containers but one of their allies was concerned about the environment. Thus, the team then started to provide utensils and even established a hygiene station to wash the utensils for reuse purposes. This shows that experiences can improve project structures. They have also learned to weigh food leftovers as a gauge of the quality and suitability of food served. This helps them identify weaknesses in their menus and provide the tastes that are generally preferred. Interestingly, 1-3kg of food leftovers and wastes each session is considered within the normal performance range.

Do we serve hot bowls of noodle soup, or hot meals of humanity?

Dapur Jalanan would also have its volunteers get feedback from their clients  about their project, try to understand the issues they might face, and casually chat with them about recent events in their lives. It is sad to have to recognise urban poverty, homelessness and other issues that spawn within the lower-pay community. However, a country will never fully stop having poverty- it is simply a relative concept. Yet, the effort of reaching out and sharing kindness has continued for a decade, and this warms my heart. 

 

With harsh inflation diminishing the people’s purchasing power, a simple restaurant meal affordable by many of us could be one entire day’s work earnings for others. Those who earn very minimal wages could depend on this free bowl of hot noodle soup to save up for another proper meal. This is why many would even travel kilometres on foot or by bus, just to receive a warm meal of humanity.

Ironically, the second tallest building in the world, PNB 118, overlooks Jalan Panggong. What a contrast between one of the most edge-cuttingly modern skyscrapers and the fact that some members of our communities queued up for a free meal just to survive another day amid their financial struggles. I have always been proud of skyscrapers in Malaysia but now I don't know how to feel about it.

Dapur Jalanan, and its volunteers, can only try their best. One major advice they shared with us is to always put ourselves in the shoes of the needy, and cater to what they actually need. It doesn’t help giving what we insist is the best, as seen from our eyes. 

If you would like to be involved, get in touch with them on Instagram: @dapurjalanankl

By, Euan Thum.