Dari Dapur: Empowering Migrants Through Storytelling and Food

Migrants experience multiple forms of discrimination before, while, and after seeking asylum. Stigma and negative narrative about migrants affect their ability to access help and basic services necessary to rebuild their lives. In Malaysia, the Dari Dapur (Stories from the Kitchen) initiative aims to change the discourse surrounding migrants and uphold human rights for all.

Migrant Issues in Malaysia

Migrants often struggle to build safe and meaningful lives for themselves due to various factors. Refusal and hostility from the local people are among them. 

Between 2019 and 2020, there were an estimated 2.6 to 5.5 million migrants in Malaysia. Migrant issues still receive mixed responses from Malaysians. Based on research commissioned by UN Human Rights, 63% agreed that their communities can become stronger when they support everyone. Over 50% believed they should help others regardless of their identities and origins.

However, only around 35% of respondents strongly or somewhat strongly believed that people fleeing persecution or war should be welcomed. A similar number of participants expressed willingness to welcome those unable to obtain healthcare, education, food, or decent work. Dari Dapur aims to improve people’s perceptions through the power of storytelling.

Dari Dapur Initiative

Through its flagship short documentary film series, Dari Dapur connects some of Malaysia’s famous figures with communities of migrants, refugees, and displaced persons through food as the common ground. This series showed how stories, hopes, and dreams were shared between migrant families and Malaysian figures over meals cooked by the family host. 

“Food always brings people to the table,” said Chef Wan in the second episode of the series. The chef and Malaysian activist Dr Hartini Zainudin visited Hameed and his family, Pakistani refugees who fled their home country to escape religious persecution. They have lived in Malaysia for six years at the time of the documentary. “I always say that regardless of which culture, where we came from, everybody will need to eat,” Chef Wan continued while Hameed prepared Pakistani Chicken Korma.

The documentary series was produced in partnership with Kuala Lumpur-based social impact production team, untitled kompeni, and currently has seven episodes featuring refugee communities from around the world who reside in Malaysia.

Portraying Migrants in A Good Light

Dari Dapur is a part of the UN Human Rights’ #StandUp4Migrants global campaign. The initiative is the second installment in the Asia-Pacific region following the MyGreat Story campaign launched in Australia in September 2022. The #StandUp4Migrant campaign was established based on the urgent need to question and change how people speak about migrants and migration towards a positive narrative. 

Portraying people on the move in a negative light can significantly impact their human rights and opportunities to improve their lives. Likewise, introducing a positive portrayal of migrants can help diminish discrimination. With how the risk of displacement has been increasing due to the impacts of the climate crisis and geopolitical tensions, supporting their rights to live is a critical aspect of achieving human rights for all.

“Migration is a complicated and often abstract issue for many Malaysians,” said Pia Oberoi, senior advisor on migration in the Asia Pacific region at OHCHR. “But storytelling is a good way to cut through the noise.”

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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