THE Bookke Cafe in Kulai, Johor is an outlet with a very different agenda – to give back to the Chinese community by helping the 15 Chinese primary schools in the area.

The cafe’s management said it was doing so by handing over 80% of its profits to these schools.

This is not surprising as the month-old cafe was set up by a group of civil societies with the intent to improve Chinese schools in Kulai. It is called the Working Committee for Chinese Schools in Kulai.

The chairman of the committee, Alfred Goh Leng Hock, who is also the brains behind the cafe, said the outlet, which sells Chinese literature, has drawn the support of many people.

“The uniqueness of this cafe is that 80% of its profits are returned to the Chinese schools, and the other 20% are used for the cafe’s operations.

“We decided to start the cafe because the development of Chinese education needs funds.

“But with the economy recovering (due to Covid-19 and the following shutdowns), it is never easy getting the funds,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Goh said it took the committee three years to set up the cafe, which was originally scheduled to open in May last year.

“It was later delayed to this year due to the impact of Covid-19.

“The biggest challenge the committee faced when planning to open the cafe was getting funds.

“I believe everyone agrees with the concept of ‘supporting schools through business’, but when you want to implement it, it is another issue altogether in getting the support.”

He said the cafe serves local and Chinese fare with brewed coffees and tea.

“We don’t get any profits from the cafe as 20% of the revenue are used as operating costs. The cafe has two employees, plus we have utility bills and other expenses.

“Other employees help out voluntarily, including my wife who is the store manager, helping and supervising here.”

He said the cafe has a reading corner, a working committee office, lecture hall and counselling room.

“The cafe is open six days a week, and it’s been full almost every day since it opened. I’m very happy to get a warm response from the public.”

Goh said the committee has plans to expand the cafe concept to other districts in Johor.

“Once we are established, then we will promote and expand the concept to the whole of Johor.

“The outlet’s success will positively impact the development of Chinese education.” – April 7, 2022.