Melissa Chan
Melissa began her career in advertising, running a small design outfit for ten years, before asking the big question, “what is the meaning to life?” God opened the door for her to serve at the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum in Melaka, and her time culminated in producing a book with her father and cousins, about her extended family; of Peranakan Chinese heritage. The book is called “Stories of One Malaccan Family.”
In 2019, another step of faith needed to be taken to begin The Bendahari. Melissa had the dream of building a creative cultural hub that honoured the past roots of Malacca and also developed new routes within this 600 year old port town. In 2020 when the pandemic hit, dreams were put on hold, and Chan with the help of her good friend, began offering a delivery service, bringing kuih and local food from traditional makers in Melaka down to Kuala Lumpur. Whilst it felt like plans were halted, it was a foundational step and the beginning of The Bendahari’s journey.
In 2023, when a last-of-its’-kind, 70-year old denture-making laboratory within the creative space she ran closed down, Chan initiated The Heritage Trades Project, which gave her a framework to develop community endeavours. In 2024, another such initiative was convened to bring to light the Kristang culture of Melaka. These programmes have also been presented with the University of Nottingham Computer Science Department (under Dr Marina Ng).
The Bendahari has been dedicated to bridging the gap between Old and New Melaka by creating a space to appreciate the history of Melaka through her people, and also for cross-cultural exchange to be made. Chan’s hope is for young people to be able to know their past and grow with it.
To discover more please visit www.thebendahari.com
As an outcome oriented person, I realise that sometimes the impact may come many years later and I may not be able to measure it today. But hopefully in planting the right seeds I have been given through talents, gifts, relationships, and learning how to steward these wisely, in a way that pleases Him, I will be able to pass on something that the next generation will find meaningful to treasure.