Reuters: Kechara Soup Kitchen wins World CSR Leadership Award
On 18th February 2018, Kechara Soup Kitchen was conferred the World CSR Leadership Award for ‘Excellence & Leadership in Poverty Alleviation’, in recognition of its many years of service to the underprivileged community of Malaysia, and its contribution towards alleviating homelessness, hunger and poverty in partnership with the Malaysian government. Mr Justin Cheah, Kechara Soup Kitchen’s Project Director who has passionately and tirelessly worked to improve the situation of this often-overlooked class of society, was present in Mumbai, India to receive the award on behalf of Kechara Soup Kitchen.
Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) was conferred the World CSR Leadership award for ‘Excellence & Leadership in Poverty Alleviation’ during the World CSR Congress and World CSR Day in Mumbai, India earlier this year. On behalf of the KSK committee and staff, I would like to say that it is such an honour to be recognised as one of the organisations that reduce hunger amongst the homeless and poverty stricken.
First and foremost, I thank the kind benefactors and people from all walks of life who have given and continue to give their time and effort to volunteer their services, making KSK one of the leading NGO’s in Malaysia. I also want to thank the beautiful Malaysian government for supporting the good works of KSK in reducing the suffering of the less fortunate.
Kechara Soup Kitchen was founded by His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche more than 10 years ago and was listed with the Registrar of Societies of Malaysia as a not-for-profit organisation in 2008. As a 16-year-old teenager, Rinpoche experienced cold, hunger and homelessness when he left Howell, New Jersey in 1981. Rinpoche hitchhiked across the USA to Los Angeles, California, in search of a guru and a Dharma centre. He only had USD50 in his pocket, survived on bread and apples, and slept under bridges and in parks, suffering due to the extreme cold. It is due to this harrowing experience that Rinpoche knows exactly how it feels to be hungry and without a roof over his head, and this is what motivates him to help others.
In 1987, Rinpoche left the USA in order to fulfil the promise he made to his teacher, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, to become a monk in Gaden Shartse Monastery, India. Upon entering the monastery and seeing the many impoverished people living in the surrounding villages, Rinpoche raised funds to help these less fortunate individuals and their families, alongside raising funds for the monastery and the needs of the monks.
Rinpoche was then asked by his monastic teachers to travel to Malaysia and teach the Dharma in order to raise badly needed funds. When Rinpoche arrived in Kuala Lumpur, he continued helping the poor as he had done in India. Before KSK was a registered charity, Rinpoche and a few of his students would buy around 15 packets of food and drink and distribute them to the homeless in Kuala Lumpur. They would search for homeless people sleeping under bridges, on pavements, and in bus terminals. They would do so in the middle of the night, after working hours, when shops had closed for the day and the city had gone to sleep. On other occasions, when passing through Kuala Lumpur, Rinpoche would stop his car whenever he spotted homeless people and would ask his students to buy food and drink for them.
When Rinpoche was in India, he would often make it a point to care for and feed the poor Indian community there. Here Tsem Rinpoche serving food to the poor in Bodhgaya, North India.
These acts of compassion continue today wherever Rinpoche travels. Rinpoche has taught his students not to discriminate when giving out food, not to judge why people are homeless, and not to think they are just drug addicts or too lazy to look for jobs. Instead, Rinpoche advises that regardless of their particular predicament, they are people with hungry stomachs and we should alleviate their hunger as best we can. Rinpoche’s compassionate teachings resonate deeply with his students and is shared by all KSK volunteers.
Since 2008, Kechara Soup Kitchen has served over 1,500,000 meals to the impoverished people of Malaysia, with an average of 10,000 vegetarian meals distributed every month to homeless people of all races and religions. Our motto ‘Hunger Knows No Barriers’ aptly describes our activities. Not only does KSK distribute food, but we have also expanded our projects to include the Kechara Food Bank which collects surplus food from kind Malaysians. This surplus food is then distributed to the urban poor, not only in Kuala Lumpur but also in Johor, Melaka, Seremban, Pahang, Perak and Penang.
With the kind assistance of medical doctors, KSK is also able to provide outpatient medical services and medication to the homeless. In March 2018, the International Medical University (IMU) even set up a free clinic within our premises to offer free medical and dental services to the poor and homeless. To further extend these services to those in need, we hope to have a mobile clinic in the future to serve the urban poor who cannot travel to the IMU clinic.
We also try to make the lives of the homeless and underprivileged more bearable with services such as free haircuts and distribution of hand-me-downs like clothes, shoes, bags and reading glasses. We also assist in finding job placements, reuniting the homeless with their families, helping homeless children register into schools, and teaching the homeless skill sets such as sewing.
Apart from these services, Kechara Soup Kitchen maintains a database of more than 7,499 registered homeless individuals. This information is used to identify the real causes of homelessness in Malaysia and the records are also shared with authorised doctors, counsellors and social workers in order to serve the homeless better.
In 2015, the Federal Territory Ministry initiated the Pusat Khidmat Gelandangan (Homeless Service Centre) at Medan Tuanku in Kuala Lumpur. This centre allows the homeless to collect food from NGOs daily. It also provides a good opportunity for NGOs to gather and foster greater cooperation in our joint aim of serving the homeless.
Another government project that KSK is closely involved in is Pusat Transit Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak in 2016. This is a sort of halfway home for the homeless while they apply for jobs so they can get back on their feet. It is the first of its kind in the world. We continue to work closely with the Malaysian government to help address and lessen the issues of homelessness in Malaysia.
Kechara Soup Kitchen is fortunate to have many dedicated and hardworking volunteers who believe in our cause and regularly offer their assistance to the homeless and underprivileged. Volunteers happily share their experiences and satisfaction of working with KSK with others, including their friends and colleagues, who often come to volunteer on a weekly basis. Even corporate companies send their staff to volunteer at KSK as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.
Kechara Soup Kitchen is always seeking the generosity of kind Malaysians to make our projects a reality. Our future initiatives include looking for a larger premises to house our expanding food bank and to teach more skills to the homeless and needy. Again, all the good work that KSK is engaged in would not be possible without the generosity of kind sponsors and our dedicated volunteers.
Thank you,
Pastor Henry Ooi
President of Kechara Soup Kitchen
Kechara Soup Kitchen founded by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche wins World CSR Leadership Award
Source: https://www.reuters.com/brandfeatures/venture-capital/article?id=32329.
Click on image to enlarge.
Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/3726974. Click on image to enlarge.
Kechara Soup Kitchen Quick Facts
Get in Touch:
- Official Website: https://www.kechara.com/services/helping-community/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KecharaSoupKitchen
- Twitter: twitter.com/kecharasoupk
- Email: ksk@kechara.com
- Tel: +603 2141 6046
Address:
17, Jalan Barat, Pudu (off Jalan Imbi),
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Location pin:
https://goo.gl/maps/tm7acJwiGAU2
Directions:
At Jalan Imbi, take the second left turn after the traffic light in front of the Honda showroom which is on your left. Kechara Soup Kitchen is situated at the fourth shop lot on your right.
A map of Kechara Soup Kitchen located in Kuala Lumpur. Click on image to enlarge.
Weekly Schedule
From 11:00am to 1:00pm on Monday to Friday, homeless clients come to Kechara Soup Kitchen in Jalan Imbi to collect their meals. On Saturday nights from 10:00pm to midnight, teams of volunteers hit the streets to distribute food to the homeless, provide free medical services and also provide counselling to those who require it.
Every Saturday night, Kechara Soup Kitchen is present in Pusat Khidmat Gelandangan Medan Tuanku (a homeless service centre in Medan Tuanku, launched on 25th September 2015 by the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor), distributing food, drinks and hand-me-down items, providing medical services and free haircuts. During the week from Monday to Thursday, we also distribute food here to the needy during lunch time.
Brief Timeline
2006: Started distributing food to the homeless on the streets.
2008: Kechara Soup Kitchen was registered as a society.
2010: The official opening of Kechara Soup Kitchen headquarters at Jalan Imbi; started operating as a physical soup kitchen.
2011: Established Penang and Johor operating centres.
2012: Established mobile clinic and food bank programme.
2013: Received tax exempt status under subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1976.
2014: Received the Iskandar Malaysia Social Heroes Award 2014.
2015: Invited to become a member of the Association of Asia Food Banks.
2016: Worked closely with the Federal Territorial Ministry to conceptualise distribution centres and halfway homes such as Pusat Transit Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur. Established fresh produce and surplus food collections from Tesco, SegiFresh, Munchy’s and wet markets all over Kuala Lumpur.
2017: Kechara Food Bank was established nationwide, including the states of Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Melaka.
2018: Awarded the World CSR Leadership Award 2018
Achievements Over The Years
- Helping people off the streets (job placements): 221 cases
- Helping people off the streets (shelter placements): 283 cases
- Helping people off the streets (drug rehabilitation referrals): 47 cases
- Welfare aid assistance: 135 cases
- Medical assistance (on the streets): 7,588 cases
- Hospital follow-ups: 223 cases
- Replacement of lost identification documents: 140 cases
- Aiding people back to their hometown: 80 cases
- Re-uniting families: 71 cases
- Funeral arrangements: 15 cases
Food Bank
- Established working partnerships with corporations such as Tesco, Sunway Hotels, Munchy’s, SegiFresh and Komugi to collect and redistribute surplus food.
- Delivery of over 6,500 kgs of dry provisions and 35,000 kgs of fresh foods (vegetables/fruits/baked goods) to 93 NGO partners nationwide, serving over 16,000 underprivileged individuals.
- Delivery of over 72,000 kgs of dry provisions since the establishment of Kechara Soup Kitchen in 2012
- Delivery of over 192,000 kgs of surplus food to NGO partners and poor families nationwide
Skills Training
Kechara Soup Kitchen has established training programmes to impart practical skills to single mothers and urban poor families to generate extra income for their livelihood. Products created from these skills so far include blankets, quilt covers, rugs and handbags made from old t-shirts and clothes.
Counseling
Kechara Soup Kitchen provides free counselling services to the homeless and urban poor by working with lecturers and students from HELP University’s Counselling Faculty.
Pusat Transit Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur
Pusat Transit Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on 27th February 2016. Run by Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (National Welfare Foundation), Pusat Transit Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur is a halfway house for the homeless and is able to facilitate 150 people at any one time.
Kechara Soup Kitchen played an important role in the planning stages of this project, which currently provides surplus food, free medical services and temporary accommodation for job-seeking homeless individuals. It is also a refuge for the homeless who find themselves stranded, victims of crime, or who need medical treatment provided by the nearby Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
Kechara Soup Kitchen Photo Gallery
When Rinpoche was a young monk in India, he would often distribute food and care for the poor Indian community.
When Rinpoche was a young monk in India, he would often distribute food and care for the poor Indian community.
H.E. Tsem Rinpoche with the Kechara Soup Kitchen committee
When the haze descended over Kuala Lumpur, Rinpoche immediately distributed facial masks and eyedrops to the homeless and urban poor
Kechara Soup Kitchen was conferred the World CSR Leadership award for ‘Excellence & Leadership in Poverty Alleviation’ during the World CSR Congress & World CSR Day in Mumbai, India.
Kechara Soup Kitchen was conferred the World CSR Leadership award for ‘Excellence & Leadership in Poverty Alleviation’ during the World CSR Congress & World CSR Day in Mumbai, India.
Meals are served to the homeless and urban poor from the Kechara Soup Kitchen premises on weekdays
The dedicated and hardworking Justin Cheah, Kechara Soup Kitchen's Project Director, distributes food to a lady afflicted with mental issues
Justin briefs the volunteers at Pusat Khidmat Gelandangan Medan Tuanku
Justin briefs the volunteers before they break off into separate teams to distribute food
Justin briefs the volunteers before they break off into separate teams to distribute food
Kechara Soup Kitchen volunteers hit the streets late at night to distribute food and drinks to the homeless
Kechara Soup Kitchen volunteers hit the streets late at night to distribute food and drinks to the homeless
Kechara Soup Kitchen volunteers hit the streets late at night to distribute food and drinks to the homeless
Kechara Soup Kitchen volunteers take the time to chat with a homeless man in order to get to know him better
Volunteers befriend a homeless lady so that we can help her better
Medical treatment is given to those who require assistance
Volunteer doctors attend to one of our street friends
A volunteer doctor examines one of our street friends
A volunteer doctor examines one of our street friends
Kechara Food Bank delivery for an urban poor family
Vivian, a dedicated member of Kechara Soup Kitchen, with happy recipients of food bank supplies
Urban poor families queue to receive their groceries from Kechara Food Bank
Kechara Food Bank delivery for an urban poor family
With the food truck kindly sponsored by SegiFresh, Kechara Food Bank is able to serve many more urban poor families
Chuah Su Ming, Kechara Soup Kitchen's secretary, visits the homes of the urban poor to learn more about their situation.
Free haircuts are available for the urban poor at Kechara Soup Kitchen
Kechara Soup Kitchen also distributes hand-me-downs like clothes, shoes, bags and reading glasses
One of our street friends now has a job with the help of Kechara Soup Kitchen
Dedicated Kechara Soup Kitchen volunteer gives skills training classes to a single mother
Kechara Soup Kitchen provides free skills training sessions such as sewing to the urban poor
Skills training classes for urban poor families
Skills training classes for urban poor families
Skills training classes for urban poor families
Skills training classes for urban poor families
Distributing provisions to poor families living in villages
These rugs are made by the children of urban poor families
Rugs made from old cloth and clothes
For more interesting information:
- Why I Conceived of Kechara Soup Kitchen or KSK
- Malaysia’s Top 10 Most Empowering Young Community Champions 2017
- My First Time Volunteering in Kechara
- Homelessness in Malaysia
- “Hunger Knows No Barriers”
- An Incredible Experience
- Yayasan Kechara Indonesia (YKI)
- ‘Bags of Love’ Give-Away in Penang
- Kechara on BBC!
- Won 2 Awards!
- What Tsem Rinpoche did in L.A…
- What did Tsem Rinpoche do in New York City’s cold winter night?
- ‘Beat the Haze’ with Kechara!
- H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s Biography
- Visiting my parents – Tsem Rinpoche
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
Kechara Soup Kitchen was conceptualised by Tsem Rinpoche to distribute food to the homeless in Malaysia. The homeless is a group that is often neglected in the society. This is the 10th years of Kechara Soup Kitchen serving the society of Malaysia, from the beginning of feeding the homeless, they have initiated many projects over the years. Currently, they have a food bank program, a Zero Food Wastage program and skill training program for the single mothers.
Kechara Soup Kitchen started with serving the homeless community in Kuala Lumpur. Later, their services were extended to other states in Malaysia including Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Ipoh, Malacca, and Penang. The community they are serving now has extended to the urban poor and underprivileged community such as single mothers.
On 18th February 2018, Kechara Soup Kitchen was conferred the World CSR Leadership Award for ‘Excellence & Leadership in Poverty Alleviation’ during the World CSR Congress and World CSR Day in Mumbai, India in recognition of its many years of service to the underprivileged community of Malaysia. This is not the only award Kechara Soup Kitchen has received. They have also received many recognitions from the Malaysian government for their contribution towards the betterment of Malaysian society.
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-soup-kitchen-ksk/kechara-won-2-awards.html
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Kechara Soup Kitchen have come a long way, in serving the homeless and the urban poor. And they serve all such people rain or shine and has been consistent in giving that support to the needy.
Well done and congratulations to Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) for receiving the award from the World CSR Leadership. Thank you KSK team and all the volunteers who work tirelessly to provide and help the homeless and those living in poverty in the city. There are many people who are ‘trapped’ in this conditions , lost and longing for help. And KSK has provided comfort to them by providing food, medical assistance, helping them to get jobs, accommodations and etc.
Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualising KSK and it has now developed into a big organisation to be able to reach out to many not only in KL but Penang and JB. May KSK continue to grow with the supports of volunteers and benefit more people.
In line with the recent de-escalation in Asia, such as the reset of Sino-Indian ties, an article about His Eminence the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche offering his strong prayers and thanksgiving was published on Reuters.
Share and read the good news here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/reuters-publishes-my-reconciliation-prayers-for-asia.html
Congratulations, Pastor Henry and the whole KSK team. KSK’s achievements are inspiring and newsworthy. These people need our help very much and this award shows that the Kechara Soup Kitchen Team is doing a great job based on the inspiration of our kind and compassionate guru ,H.E. The 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. ??☘️? ?
Congratulations, Kechara Soup Kitchen, for winning this award and international recognition for your role in alleviating hunger and poverty. Thank you for continuing to fulfil our Guru’s vision of feeding the poor and homeless, taking the homeless off the streets and making their lives more meaningful wherever you can, providing skills’ training and the like.. Thank you KSK team, volunteers and sponsors for your tireless efforts in growing Kechara Soup Kitchen into what it is today. Thank you Justin for your unwavering passion and devotion to helping the poor, hungry and needy.
One wonderful part played by Kechara Soup Kitchen as it grows and spreads throughout Malaysia is to create increasing awareness of the plight of these homeless as well as create an increasingly popular avenue for volunteerism in social work that transcends race or creed.
Congrats to KSK!!!
And appreciation goes further to those who have been contributed to KSK in whatever forms.
Congratulations to Pastor Henry and team for their dedication and hard work to bring ffood and help to those who need it most. These people need our help very much and this award shows that the Kechara Soup Kitchen Team is doing a great job based on the inspiration of oab.E. The 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
As listed above many people have been helped by Kechara Soup Kitchen. Each person who has received help from KSK has been in a very difficult situation. I rejoice for all those who are involved with Kechara Soup Kitchen, such as the team and the many volunteers, to bring help to those who need it most.
Congratulations to Pastor Henry and KSK. It is not an easy task to look for sponsors, volunteers and the target of underprivileged people to be assisted. All the efforts contributed by KSK are deserved that award.
The existence of KSK is not only benefit to the underprivileged people but also the volunteers whether they’re employees of corporate companies or individual. As per report, 99% of the activities in the organization are run by volunteers. It’s very encouraging that KSK becomes a platform in providing opportunity to the people to practice kindness, caring, loving and to build a better relationship and understand each other.
Congratulations Kechara Soup Kitchen been conferred the World CSR Leadership Award. It has come a long way to be recognised as one of the leading NGO’s in Malaysia. Kechara Soup Kitchen was founded by HEthe 25th Tsem Rinpoche more than 10 years ago, having experienced hunger and hardship before ,he knew how it is like without food. With the partnership with the Malaysian government Kechara Soup Kitchen has indeed help countless of homeless, hunger poverty among the communities. From Kuala Lumpur as the first place have open up more branches to Penang, Ipoh ,Johor to name a few. Wow ….can imagine serving over 1,500,000 meals and an average of 10,000 vegetarian meals been distributed every month to homeless people regardless of races and religions. Not only distributing foods, KSK have expanded other projects which include the Kechara Food Bank and outpatient medical services and medication to the homeless. With the kind assistance of medical doctors, kind generous sponsors and our dedicated volunteers , many homeless and underprivileged has benefited. Many corporate companies have taken part as their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes which is a good approach.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Henry Ooi for sharing this wonderful news and much of KSK .
Congratulations to Kechara Soup Kitchen! This is an award well deserved. Kechara Soup Kitchen had been helping urban poor tirelessly through the various programs; from the fundamental programs like serving food, providing medical care to mobilising these services, KSK had evolved to providing the homeless and urban poor with skill training so that they ca learn to be independent, reuniting them with families and getting them proper identity documents. These thankless jobs can only be carried out by people of the kindest mind.
All these are only possible because our Guru, Tsem Rinpoche, conceptualised and initiated KSK years ago. He encourages and motivated the key members of KSK to keep serving and working for others. Thank you, Rinpoche and KSK team. It is a wonderful news to see Reuters and Digital Journal, a timely recognition for the team.
Congratulations, Pastor Henry and the whole KSK team. KSK’s achievements are inspiring and newsworthy.
May KSK continue to advance and achieve all the goals of its founder, H.E the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. HUNGER KNOWS NO BARRIERS