A group of 15 Malaysians recently had the opportunity to explore hidden gems in their own city of Kuala Lumpur, led by a member of a migrant community. This unique outing, organized by Project Future Malaysia, aims to showcase the untold stories of migrants living in the city. The pilot project, called Kembara Stories and Food Trail, takes place every Saturday this month and features storytellers from Nepal, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.
The first session was led by a Nepalese storyteller named Manoj, followed by Ana Liza from the Philippines and Amirah from Indonesia. The last session will be led by Nadia from Bangladesh. During the walk, participants visited various locations that hold significance to migrant communities, such as a Filipino restaurant, a shopping complex catering to Filipino and other migrant communities, Petaling Street, and Pasar Seni transport hub.
Ana Liza, a domestic helper from the Philippines, shared personal stories of her journey and the challenges she faced in building a new life in Malaysia. She emphasized the importance of creating a sense of community and having meaningful places in a new country. Participants had the opportunity to ask Ana Liza about life back home and what she liked about living in Malaysia.
According to Ana Liza, many Filipinos attend church on Sundays, their one day off in the week, and then head to eateries near St John’s Cathedral to connect with fellow Filipinos over food. The participants also learned about the Filipinos’ preference for buying products from shops in Kompleks Kota Raya to send back to their families as they are cheaper and can remind them of home.
The Kembara Stories and Food Trail project aims to give voice to migrant communities and introduce Malaysians to their culture and food. The organizers wanted to highlight the stories, food, and places that are meaningful to the storytellers, without imposing their own narratives onto them. Food plays a crucial role in these sessions, as it provides a means to introduce Malaysian locals to the diverse cuisines of the migrant workers.
The project faced challenges in finding storytellers who could effectively communicate their stories and ensuring logistics and safety in public spaces. However, the organizers are actively seeking feedback from both participants and storytellers, with the long-term plan of collaborating with a registered tour operator to make it a regular event.
Participants of the Kembara Stories and Food Trail found the experience eye-opening, as they discovered a different perspective on their own city. The project received support from the Downtown Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme from Think City.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
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