IN the echoes of war and the shadows of persecution, countless families seek refuge in foreign lands. But their hopes for a better life are, more often than not, met with the harsh reality of adversity.
"Many refugees have to toil tirelessly in large factories, earning meagre wages just to stave off hunger for their families," begins Julie Das, a compassionate force at the heart of Greater Action, a non-profit social organisation she co-founded with healthcare adviser Dr Shazwan Sahabudeen.
Run by a team of international, enthusiastic women, the organisation, founded in March 2020 as an emergency response to the pandemic, seeks to offer a lifeline for marginalised refugee families who've been forced to flee their homeland and rebuild their lives in Malaysia.
With the prime focus being on women's empowerment through curated skills training programmes, Das and her team of volunteers currently extend support to 250 Afghan families, providing necessities, medical aid, and education for their children. However, this NGO transcends traditional charity; it empowers refugees by equipping them with skills for independent livelihoods.
In the cosy comfort of her skills-training centre for Afghan refugee women on the first floor of a nondescript building somewhere in Bandar Baru Ampang, as the heady aroma of cooking wafting in the air, I feel as if I've been transported to a completely different world.
On the walls are works of art so vibrant and alive that you feel like you've stumbled into an art gallery. Meanwhile, on the shelves and racks are displays of eye-catching products such as bags, unique jewellery, kitchen collectibles and more.
This centre, just opened in January last year, is a haven for creativity and resilience. "Here is a safe and nurturing place for them," shares Das, her smile wide as she notes my appreciative gaze.
SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE
The heart of Greater Action beats within the sewing room, where stories of hope and determination unfold. There's Zara, a single mother with two children, who crafts dresses and bags with skills refined through the training she's been receiving here.
"She's been in the country for two months. Initially, she came asking for support for her children's education," recalls Das, adding: "But after some discussion — and taking into her account her single-mother status — we decided to put her on the job as she could do tailoring. We just refined her skills, but she's already really good."
Then there's Latifa, the lady behind some of the unique necklaces and earrings displayed on a table that captured my attention the moment I walked into this space. Not a necklace-maker by profession, Latiffa, a housewife back in Afghanistan, learnt everything from scratch to support her family.
"She's been in Malaysia for 11 years and may soon be seeing a silver lining," beams Das, adding: "We hope she'll be resettled soon. It's in the pipelines and the process has already started."
The smooth running of operations at the centre is also under Basira, an attractive 24-year-old who aspires to be a world-famous baker. In the country with her mother and siblings, she juggles English lessons and helps coordinate activities at Greater Action together with her Afghan "sister", the lovely Razia.
Her eyes under her glasses sparkle with pride as Das introduces the women and shares their stories. "Each one of them has a personal story," she says simply. The youngest woman here is 24 and the oldest, 55.
BEACON OF CREATIVITY
The sewing room is a beacon of creativity and sustainability. "Everything you see here has been done by the ladies, all made using upcycled materials," states Das, that tone of pride lacing her words.
Beckoning me to follow her into one of the rooms where mountains of clothes and materials threaten to topple from their place on the cabinets and cupboards, Das, whose ancestors included talented tailors, makes a beeline for a stack, which includes bedsheets and a beautiful saree.
Lifting the material up, she exclaims happily: "See this? We even make use of the borders to create our designs. Nothing is wasted! We encourage resourcefulness and definitely no wastage."
The endeavour extends beyond the sewing room into the kitchen — a hub of activity and cultural exchange. I'm introduced to a smiling, tudung-clad Afghan lady called Zarin, in a simple T-shirt and presiding over a worktable.
In Malaysia for the last five years, this mother of two, whose husband used to sell coconuts but is now unemployed, leads the culinary charge, creating traditional Afghan dishes with a healthier twist.
"Food always unites," says Das, sharing: "People know us for quality food. That's how they first come into Greater Action, and then after we tell them about our various programmes."
The kitchen, she elaborates, is the organisation's bread and butter. There are six cooks and two bakers dedicatedly working over the hot stove. "We offer Afghan food and can cater up to 300 people," exclaims Das, adding proudly: "We'll be launching Moroccan food soon. Our girls are being trained by two Moroccan chefs working in this country. They wanted to give back to the community."
It's also in this bustling kitchen that Basira and some of the ladies here are learning the art of making French pastries. "Food, upcycling, sewing and art. We have many things going on here," remarks Das enthusiastically, underscoring the multifaceted nature of Greater Action's initiatives.
Solemnly, the affable 50-something continues: "It's important to understand that for whoever works here — and we have more than 20 women who are considered as being the heart of Greater Action — this is their only source of livelihood. It used to be that what they earned was merely a side income to complement their husband's; but no more. Many employers are refusing to hire refugees, so these men have lost their jobs."
On how much the ladies are able to bring home to their families, Das replies: "They make between RM500 and RM3,000, depending on how many hours they need to work and how many orders they have."
As the aroma of Afghan delicacies begin to envelop this cosy space, causing my stomach to rumble silently, the affable Parisian motions for me to return to the table where a lunch spread would soon be served.
Continuing her story, Das shares that the women here are Hazaras, a minority ethnic group who live primarily in the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan. Their men were traditionally farmers active in herding in the central and southeastern highlands of Afghanistan.
"Theirs is a group that has been persecuted for more than 70 years," elaborates Das, her tone solemn, adding: "When they came here, they realised they couldn't access legal jobs, put their kids to school, or have access to specialist healthcare. They don't have freedom of movement because they don't have the refugee card, which takes years to get."
WAKE-UP CALL
Das' journey with Greater Action started with a wake-up call during the lockdown in March 2020. "I woke up one day and thought to myself, 'Julie, you have to do something for the refugees,'" she recalls.
Her husband, who works in the telecommunication's industry and whom she met as a student in Germany, is her constant pillar of support. "My husband likes to say I look for trouble!" she chuckles, before confiding fondly: "He's my best supporter — mentally, morally, and he's always been by my side throughout my numerous ventures and humanitarian missions."
Rewinding back time, the former international school teacher recalls that she made the decision to reach out to the community, and subsequently ended up meeting with the leader of the Afghan community.
"I remember her being so overwhelmed," shares Das, elaborating: "She couldn't cope with the numbers of refugees flocking in and seeing these women fall into depression, the men losing their jobs and the kids not schooling. The situation was dire."
Back then, Das, was still in full-time employment as a teacher. "I told her I'd make some time to be by her side and provide a listening ear. I also said that I'd do my best to offer some help."
As time went by and she became more involved in their cause, something triggered within her. Muses Das: "It suddenly hit me. I knew I could do more if I quit my job and devoted my time to the community. After all, I already had experience from working on two other projects – one in Calcutta, and the other, Yangon."
Elaborating, she shares: "In 2005, a friend started a school in a slum area of Calcutta. I joined in 2009. Now we have a school for 350 children, aged between 3 and 18, who live in horrible conditions with no running water or electricity. We offer this school sponsorship programme similar to Unicef."
In Yangon, Myanmar, Das worked on a project offering vocational training to the Rohingya people. "Together with some Myanmar ladies who could speak French, we raised funds and revamped a restaurant, and went on to provide vocational training for the Rohingyas on the streets, between the ages of 18 and 25."
REAL CONNECTION
When she made the decision to focus solely on her new endeavour with the Afghan community, Das began to immerse herself in everything she could lay her hands on. "I read a lot about the conditions of women in Afghanistan and I was horrified. It wasn't acceptable. This was the main reason why I decided to focus on women, and specifically, on Afghan women. When I met them, I felt truly connected (with them)."
Asked to elaborate on this connection, Das' expression softens. A pause to reflect, before she eventually replies: "I'm French, but I live in Asia. I feel that these women are very close to my culture actually. For them, family values and education are important. They'd starve just so they can put money aside for their children's education. They understand that education will break the cycle of poverty. I'm like that. I also find them very elegant and refined. French people have this reputation too, no?"
Continuing, she enthuses softly: "Afghan women are very beautiful inside and out. They're very dignified. Even though they're suffering, have no voice at home, and have been deprived of education, employment and so many opportunities, they still stand strong. I like that courage and resilience in them."
The ladies embarking on this journey with her, adds Das, were selected for a reason. "I listened to their heart. My decision to take them onboard wasn't based on their skills. Take Zara, I love her. She's so pure. She has never asked me for anything. Despite not speaking the same language, we still communicate well. I feel like she could be an aunty of mine, or I've known her forever. I work very much with my feelings, my sixth sense."
Das makes it a point to encourage them to help each other. "I tell them we're all having the same trouble, the same challenges, the same hardship. Once we understand that, we're here to help each other. When they first came, they were scared of their neighbours and scared of speaking up. They didn't understand that they had to share their knowledge. Now we're like a big family. I want everyone to be on that level of understanding."
A GENTLE HEART
Hailing from a family rooted in social justice, the lively Parisian's commitment to humanitarian causes traces back to her upbringing. "My father was an intellectual, a professor of everything," she shares, adding with a chuckle: "He's a world citizen, and for that, I'm very much like him."
Her mother, Das adds fondly, is a kind and soft-spoken woman. "She had a part-time job in administration. But she's also an artist. She paints, but she's not famous. I have all her art in my home!"
Das' personal story, intricately interwoven with her humanitarian journey, unfolds as she reminisces about her upbringing in Paris and her pursuit of social work. "I don't like to see people suffering, especially when I know I can do something to help," she says passionately.
Her vision for Greater Action extends beyond charity; Das, who has a sister, envisions the organisation being run entirely by refugee women. "I see potential in these women, especially Razia. One day, I'll just oversee everything, but they run the show."
In her eyes, these women she works with aren't just refugees — they're individuals with dreams and aspirations. "They dream of being recognised as humans. That's all," emphasises Das. Their skills training will become a bridge to self-sufficiency, offering hope for a better life, even in the face of limited resettlement opportunities.
ILLUMINATING LIVES
The scepticism she encounters is a constant reminder of the misconceptions surrounding refugees. "Why do we have to handle them separately? This is wrong," asserts Das. Her dream is simple: for Malaysians to recognise refugees as ordinary people with talents and aspirations, deserving of the same opportunities and rights.
To amplify her message, Das authored a book, showcasing the lives of 10 women from Greater Action. "These women are tailors, cooks, artists etc., and their lives have changed," she proudly declares.
As I savour the flavours of Afghan cuisine and marvel at the upcycled creations around me, Das' message resounds — a call to action, a plea for understanding, and an invitation to witness the resilience, talent and humanity that lie within the refugee community.
Greater Action stands as a beacon of hope, where compassion and creativity converge to illuminate lives. Das, with her unwavering dedication and belief in the transformative power of empowerment, invites us all to join hands in crafting a world where refugees aren't just survivors, but thriving contributors to the diverse tapestry of humanity.
May her vision inspire us all to take greater action.
DREAMS OF HUMANITY: AN ART EXHIBITION OF REFUGEE ARTISTS
WHERE: Alliance Francaise de Kuala Lumpur, 15, Lorong Gurney, Kuala Lumpur
WHEN: January 2024.
Go to www.greateraction.org for info.