Afghan refugees create a taste of home in Malaysia

It is barely noon on a sunny Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, but Julie Das has been busy. She’s already met with two Afghan refugee families, and is on her way to a third – a visit she’s particularly excited about. She’s meeting Khadija, a potential new chef for the cooking project at her non-profit, Greater Action.

At her tiny apartment, Khadija is dressed in a loose floral and cotton shawl over her head, ready with the meal she has prepared for this tasting session. There is the Afghan version of chicken biryani, along with some herbed rice, okra curry, and a tangy green sauce with yogurt, all neatly laid out on a mat spread on the