M'sian City Life #15: I Spend My Friday Nights On The Streets With The Homeless In KL

Faizal has been partnering with Astana Damansara Nasi Kukus (ADNK) to organise suspended meal programmes and food distribution to the needy, an initiative dubbed as 'Misi Sedekah Jumaat', since November 2015.

"We started this programme because the team at ADNK realised that the public has been participating in suspended meal programmes offered by other restaurants," Faizal said.

Seeing that this was an opportunity and a good initiative, Faizal and the team at ADNK planned how they wanted to carry out the suspended meal programme, where customers can act as donors by paying for a meal in advance for others.

"We started by promoting our vision to our family, friends and customers, as well as on various social media platforms."

"On the first week, we were joined by more experienced volunteers because it was our first time distributing food to the homeless. The initial stage was quite challenging but we learnt that safety is our utmost priority."

With more experience, Faizal and his team managed to come up with a structured programme flow to help ease the operational procedures. From the systematic payment method for donors to the organisation of food and distribution by volunteers, everything is now planned out well by the team.

"When we started this initiative, there were only seven of us. To date, we have about 100 volunteers who have joined us over the last 6 months."

"My family has been very supportive and encouraging throughout the last few months, especially my wife, Norhaini," said Faizal, extending his gratitude to his parents, his three children and his siblings.

“For those of us who help out every week, there are many good memories. There is also always something new for us to learn each time, even from the homeless,” Faizal said.

“There was once I met a homeless uncle who was sleeping on the roadside with his wheelchair. I went to offer him some food and drinks but he refused and said, 'Thank you, son, but please give it to someone else because I’m already full'."

"It's touching to see that these people will not hesitate to give others who are more in need a chance, especially if their needs for the day have been met.”

He recently joined another NGO for a street feeding session. He recalled how he was a little nervous to work with them for them first time.

"At first, I just looked from afar. I was actually quite shy but mustered the courage to approach the programme leader and offered my service," Faizal said.

"I didn't mind that I was the tukang pegang plastik air, tukang susun kotak nasi lemak, tukang kutip plastik sampah (person-in-charge of handling water distribution, rearranging the nasi lemak packets, making sure the area was clean) and helped in other areas that I can."

"Everything was planned well by the organising team. As everyone else looked busy and I didn't want to bother them, I took the initiative and did the simplest things. It doesn't matter what I did, as long as I do something to help the volunteers and the homeless people."

Faizal is a strong believer in the cause that is he championing and that the world can be a better place when there is charity at home.

"Misi Sedekah Jumaat can help those who are in need. There are many needy people in the country that need us, like the orphans or the homeless. Although what we do may not help to solve all of their problems but at least we could lighten their burdens," Faizal said.

"Not only do we want to help the poor and needy, we also want to instil a spirit of gratitude and positive values among those who help out. We might not be able to eradicate poverty but I believe we can be better people through charity."

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