Official Launch of Kechara Soup Kitchen Melaka Store
The EXCO of Women, Welfare and Rural Development of Melaka, Y.B. Ginie Lim Siew Lin (third from the right) and Puan Fazreena (far right), an officer from Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs at the official launch of our store in Melaka
Good News! Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) is expanding in Melaka thanks to the generosity of Dato’ Colin Tan and Hatten Hotel. This is the official launch of our store in Melaka, which is a combination of two kiosk units situated by the side of the Hatten Hotel. They were let to us free of charge by Dato’ Colin, who has been very supportive of our work in Melaka for many years. Hatten Hotel is also sponsoring the operation in Melaka, including providing a van for KSK to facilitate logistic work.
The EXCO of Women, Welfare and Rural Development of Melaka, YB. Ginie Lim Siew Lin, Dato’ Colin of Hatten Group and Justin Cheah, representing KSK during the ribbon cutting ceremony
During the official launch of the store, we have the honour to have the EXCO of Women, Welfare and Rural Development of Melaka, Y.B. Ginie Lim to be present as our guest of honour, along with Dato’ Colin and Dato’ Edwin Tan of Hatten group. Representatives of our food partner TESCO and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Melaka, as well as local non-governmental organisations were also present. Y.B. Ginie Lim was very pleased with our work and she spoke highly about it.
The unit was already up and running since October last year and it serves as a base for our volunteers in Melaka to do their work. It is also a storage area for dry provisions or surplus food collected from our food partners, donors, TESCO and AEON.
Food and provisions were given to the underprivileged families invited to the event
On that day, 30 needy families were invited to attend the launching event with food, surplus provisions, and vegetarian meals provided. Free health checkups were also available, made possible by the generosity of Straits Pharmacy, who is our neighbour in Melaka. Our dedicated volunteers were very helpful to ensure the smooth running of the event, despite the event being organised on a weekday. The event ended after a meal sponsored by Hatten Hotel.
Dato’ Colin gave the opening speech
Some of KSK Melaka volunteers at the official launch of our store in Melaka despite it being a working day
Justin Cheah showing the EXCO of Women, Welfare and Rural Development of Melaka, YB. Ginie Lim Siew Lin and Tesco Manager, En Awang around our store in Melaka
Free medical booth provided by our neighbour in Melaka, Straits Pharmacy
A group photo of all the people involved in the official launch of our store in Melaka
History of Kechara Soup Kitchen
KSK formed in October 2006, inspired by the spiritual guide of Kechara Organisation, H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. KSK is a non-profit organisation that distributes food and more importantly, gives hope to the homeless and urban poor in Malaysia, regardless of race and religion.
Our motto is “Hunger Knows No Barriers”, and the society was registered in May 2008. A KSK Charter was adopted in August of the same year, which emphasises KSK’s non-religious nature and its aim of contributing to improve Malaysian society. Volunteers in KSK come from all walks of life and races to contribute to the same noble cause which is to help others in need.
In 2011, KSK achieved another milestone by setting up a permanent soup kitchen in Kuala Lumpur. Food is provided every single day at the premise to the clients, as well as first aid, job placements, laundry facilities and direct counselling.
KSK’s clients are welcomed to visit the soup kitchen to receive a hot meal totally free of charge. On weekends, volunteers will take to the streets to deliver food directly to the clients wherever they sleep. Only vegetarian food is served so that everyone can eat regardless of their religion or beliefs.
Currently, KSK also provides training to the homeless or needy families to empower them with skills to enable them to re-enter society as skilled citizens or to generate income with some products that they can produce in their own home.
Information on Kechara Soup Kitchen
Address: 17, Jalan Barat, (Off Jalan Imbi), 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia.
Opening hours:
Monday- Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 2pm-10pm
Sunday: Closed
Contact: +603-2141 6046
Email: ksk@kechara.com
Webpage: http://www.kechara.com/ksk
Why H.E. Tsem Rinpoche conceived of Kechara Soup Kitchen?
H.E. Tsem Rinpoche left home when he was 16 years old and hitchhiked his way across the United States on his own from New Jersey to California. He had to leave the comfort of his own home because he could not pursue his wish to learn Dharma. He tried to run away from home several times but in 1981, he finally left home in Howell, New Jersey for good.
During the journey from New Jersey to Los Angeles, Rinpoche lived the life of a homeless with a constant fear of the danger on the street. Rinpoche also suffered severe hunger and cold. At one point, Rinpoche had to sleep with his shoes on so that he could flee the scene immediately when danger comes. Imagine what a 16-year-old boy have to endure without the protection or help from anyone.
When Rinpoche reached Los Angeles, he had to work all types of jobs to support himself, as well as serving his teacher at a Dharma centre. It was not easy for a 16-year-old. He never forgot what it was like and he sympathises deeply with people who have it hard. So as an extension of those days, H.E Tsem Rinpoche created Kechara Soup Kitchen or KSK to support those who needed help and hope in their lives. KSK had since grown from giving food to 15 people a week to 2,500 people a week.
For more interesting information:
- Why I conceived of Kechara Soup Kitchen or KSK
- “Hunger knows no barrier”
- Sodexo and KSK served 1000 hungry stomach
- Tara at Hatten
- H.E. The 25th Tsem Rinpoche’s Biography
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Congratulation for the official launch of Kechara Soup Kitchen in Melaka.Another milestone for Kechara Soup Kitchen.
Some say that we should not help the homeless because they will become lazy but this is not true as no ones likes to be homeless.
The sincerity of Kechara Soup Kitchen has gained the public trust and more people getting involved in doing good deeds.
Congratulations Kechara Soup Kitchen for achieving another milestone in helping the poverty and homeless in Malaysia. Thank you so much for the generosity of Hatten and TESCO for their continuous support for the cause. Kechara Soup Kitchen came a long way to reach this step but together with the devoted committee and volunteers that tirelessly believe in what they doing able to bring benefit the people that need hope and 2nd chance in their life, everything turns out well and fruitful. May more people involve in this meritorious act and more people benefited.
Thank you, Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this good news with us. Now, due to the generosity of the sponsors, Kechara Soup Kitchen is able to expand in Melaka and help more people in Melaka. Kechara Soup Kitchen had come a long way with many new branches all over Malaysia now.
What makes Kechara Soup Kitchen different than the other soup kitchen is that they actually do not JUST provide food for poor and homeless. They also give them hope by getting them a job or giving them training to get them back up their feet in society. It is very good to do this for the homeless or poverty-stricken families because it will serve them better that way.
Kechara Soup Kitchen is created because of Rinpoche’s personal experience when he was forced to leave the comfort of his home at 16 to pursue his wish of studying Dharma. He experienced homelessness and poverty. That is why Rinpoche wanted to help those who are experiencing the same and alleviate their suffering.
Kechara Soup Kitchen had achieved another mile stone having launch a store in Melaka. Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) is expanding in Melaka thanks to the generosity of Dato’ Colin Tan and Hatten Hotel. KSK is a non-profit organisation that distributes food to the underprivileged poor families , homeless in Malaysia, regardless of race and religion. The Melaka team and those dedicated volunteers did a good job. Rejoice.
Thank you Rinpoche for this great news .
Rejoice for KSK in expanding the services to Malacca. Many more homeless and those in need will be taken care of. Hatten Group is one of the fastest growing construction firm in Malacca and thank you for your generousity in sponsoring Kechara Soup Kitchen activities and care for the communities in Malacca. Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualising Kechara Soup Kitchen and it has benefited so many people and allowing volunteers the opportunities to participate in this meritorious exercise.
Rejoice to Kechara Soup Kitchen on your grand opening for KSK store!???? Hope Ipoh will have one too in the near future. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this wonderful update☘️???
Wow, another milestone for Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK)! Kechara Soup Kitchen was conceptualised by Tsem Rinpoche 10 years ago. They started with distributing 20 over packets of food to the homeless in Kuala Lumpur city and now they have a few soup kitchens all over Malaysia distributing over 2000 packets of food every week. Not only they are distributing the food, but they are also the first one in Malaysia to launch the food bank where supermarkets donate the surplus vegetables or food to KSK and KSK will redistribute them to the underprivileged.
Some say we should not help the homeless because they are lazy. But this is not entirely true, no one likes to be homeless. Kechara Soup Kitchen’s mission is not to provide food to the homeless. Providing food is just a way to get to know the homeless and then help them to get off the street. Over the years, Kechara Soup Kitchen has helped many homeless off the street by either getting them a shelter or a job or help them to reconcile with their families so they can go home.
With their passion and compassion to help the underprivileged, Kechara Soup Kitchen always finds different ways to help to relieve people’s from their plights. Their sincerity has gained the public trust and more people are getting involved in doing good deeds to contribute to society. Hatten Group has set a very good example for other corporations to follow. It is amazing how with the effort of a few people in the beginning, it can become something of this scale. Please keep up with the good work!