​​​​​​​At Wesleyan University, a student-led initiative is showing how food can nourish more than just the body. SpeakeaSEA, founded by Ryan Wong ’27 and Huong Huang ’27, brings together culture, wellness, and social impact through something simple and powerful: a shared meal. SpeakeaSEA is built on the idea of “buy a meal, give a meal.”​

​​

Founded in Spring 2025 as a catering service for Southeast Asian food, SpeakeaSEA has expanded into workshops on education, art, and environmental activism, discussing the adaptability of cultural traditions in hard times, whether it means using readily available ingredients like banana leaves and anchovies, or unpacking how global warming affects the harvest. Through their presentations, Ryan and Huong highlight artists like Shaq Koyok and shed light on the monopolization of farming and the influence of minorities on our culture.

​

In addition, Wong and Huang prepare homemade Vietnamese and Malaysian Chinese dishes and offer them to the Wesleyan community. Every purchase goes beyond the plate, with most of the profits donated to organizations that address food insecurity and support disaster relief efforts, especially across Southeast Asia. The founders draw from the meals they grew up eating, bringing a sense of home into a new environment. For many students, trying dishes like shrimp fried rice or honey-glazed chicken becomes a moment of cultural exchange, inviting people into Southeast Asian traditions, flavors, and histories in an authentic way.​ Not to mention, the food is a 10 out of 10.

​

College can feel fast and overwhelming, and having access to real, homemade food can honestly make a difference. SpeakeaSEA fosters that environment, especially for international students who don’t always have access to meals that feel like home, while also giving other students a chance to try something new. As co-directors of Xtacy, one of the FXT dance teams, Ryan and Huong understand how important it is to fuel your body, not just for dance, but for your overall well-being.​

​

Ryan, Huong, and the volunteers aren’t trying to make money; they aim only to cover the cost of ingredients and donate whatever’s left. At the same time, they’re connecting their work to something bigger, especially food insecurity in Southeast Asia caused by natural disasters. They’re contributing to food security in Southeast Asia one meal at a time, turning something as simple as buying food into a way to support communities beyond campus.​

​

What makes SpeakeaSEA especially meaningful is how intentional they are about choosing organizations with similar values and building ongoing relationships. In their early months, they donated to Kechara Soup Kitchen, a Malaysian nonprofit that provides meals, healthcare, and support services to unhoused and low-income communities. They also partnered with Nuôi Em, a Vietnamese initiative that provides nutritious school lunches to children in rural areas so they can continue their education.​

​

Their impact is steadily growing, and as friends of JNewellness, we are proud of their progress. In April and May alone, SpeakeaSEA raised over 13 million Vietnamese đồng, more than five hundred dollars, to support four students in Cao Bằng province. This funding will provide consistent meals over multiple years, reflecting their long-term commitment to food justice and international cooperation.