Once all 80 packets have been prepped, these helpers will then distribute the packets to the needy in Kajang for iftar.
This is all part of a Ramadan initiative by Ali Rahman Afghan Kitchen, a social enterprise aimed at helping refugees earn a living by selling homemade Afghan food.
The man behind it all is Jules Rahman Ong, a Malaysian freelance writer, fixer, producer and award-winning independent documentary filmmaker.
According to Ong, Ali Rahman Afghan Kitchen took shape in June 2020 after he had the opportunity to meet young refugees who arrived in Malaysia under desperate circumstances.
“I was thinking of a way for them to be more independent,” explained Ong, who discovered that whenever the young refugees missed a taste of home, they would cook up nostalgic dishes and share the lovely meals with others.
Ong himself had to watch sadly as his livelihood took a turn for the worse due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This led him to ponder about the low-income, B40 and refugee groups in the country and how they would survive during the month of Ramadan.
Ali Rahman Afghan Kitchen is hoping to donate 500 home cooked meals for iftar in hopes to ease burdens and bring smiles to the hungry during this holy month.
“We aim to raise RM5,000 in order to be able to feed 500 people, estimating it at RM10 per person and to compensate the cooks for coming up with the food. Many low-income people do back-breaking jobs and still fast throughout, so we are keen to contribute to the poorer mosques in Kajang where they come to break their fast,” explained Ong.
“I believe we should share our bounty with those who are less fortunate, particularly during this holy month,” he added.
To date, Ali Rahman Afghan Kitchen has successfully raised RM3,700 which will help feed 370 hungry mouths, thanks to Ong’s supportive friends on social media who have contributed to the cause.
Ong has also engaged another Afghan family to help out, explaining that the Ali Rahman Afghan Kitchen is rather small and this not only gives the family the opportunity to help, but also the chance to earn extra income.
“So far, we have managed to churn out 200 meals for the needy. Meanwhile, the other Afghan family has offered to cook 100 meals.”
If your stomach is rumbling and you are feeling particularly generous, why not contribute to this Ramadan initiative by ordering homemade Afghan meals? There’s the traditional Chicken Karahi that’s truly lip-smacking or the Beef or Mutton Karahi which is just as good.
There are a variety of other homemade and affordable Afghan dishes cooked by the refugees such as the fragrant Afghan Pilaf Rice, Afghan Potato or Green Onion Murtabak.
According to Ong, the customer favourite is the Chicken Karahi, Mutton Karahi and Afghan Mantu Dumplings.
Through his efforts to help the refugees further, Ong is already planning to partner up with the founder of Sharon Sarawak Special to open a hookah cafe, one that will serve homemade shawarma and Sarawak Laksa pretty soon.
For now though, Ong hopes the Ramadan initiative will be a success and he thanks Malaysians in advance for their support, as well as for providing a temporary safe home for them
He, like many, hopes that they can be resettled to a safe country soon, where they can be naturalised as citizens.
If you are keen on trying out homemade Afghan food, do contact Ong at 012-5454961 or check out Ali Rahman Afghan Kitchen on their Facebook page.
Do place your orders a day earlier to give the cooks ample time to prepare your delicious meals.