These Two Malaysians Built a Community That Brings Strangers Together Through Side Quests

Whether it's joining a hiking club, reconnecting with nature through outdoor activities, attending writing meetups or simply finding spaces that encourage real-life socialising, Malaysians today have more opportunities than ever to build meaningful connections through community.

For Adlina Syakirin Mohd Julian Hadi and Yasarah Helmy, that desire for connection inspired the creation of Sidekues Club, a community that encourages people to step out of their comfort zones and try new experiences alongside strangers who may soon become friends.

Meet the founders

Adlina Syakirin Mohd Julian Hadi and Yasarah Helmy, both 26, first connected through mutual friends on Instagram. Although they regularly chatted through DMs, they had never actually met in person.

It wasn't until 2024, nearly two years after they first started talking online, that the pair finally decided to meet over coffee.

According to Yasarah, Adlina was the more proactive one when it came to joining communities and trying new experiences. During one of their outings together, the conversation turned to a question many young adults quietly ask themselves: What if there was a space where people could try new things without having to do it alone?

"Earlier this year, we went for a firefly walk in Bukit Kiara. We had dinner together afterwards and talked about how nice it would be to have a group of people to do fun activities with on the weekends."

As working professionals, one a UX Designer and the other a PR Executive, both can relate to the feeling of being caught in the same routine day after day.

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

The duo also understand how intimidating it can be to do things alone, especially when trying something completely new for the first time.

Despite that, Adlina believes there's value in stepping outside your comfort zone whenever possible.

"Worst-case scenario, it serves as confirmation of what you already know about yourself. Best-case scenario, you might discover something different about yourself, and you might gain a new hobby and new friends along the way," she said.

Sidekues Club

What began as a casual conversation eventually became Sidekues Club.

True to its name, the duo chose "Sidekues" as a playful twist on the phrase "side quest", a nod to stepping away from everyday routines to try something new.

While both founders are heavily involved in planning events, their responsibilities naturally complement each other. Adlina oversees the club's branding and social media presence, including poster design and event promotions, while Yasarah takes charge of logistics, vendor management and collaborations.

When it comes to deciding on activities, the pair usually alternate between creative and outdoor-based experiences, a reflection of their own interests. That said, they're open to exploring new genres as the community continues to grow.

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

While there are no age or gender restrictions for those interested in joining Sidekues Club, the founders admitted that most participants are currently women in their mid-20s to early 30s. More recently, however, they've noticed growing interest from men as well.

Joining an activity is relatively straightforward. Participants simply need to reach out through the club's Instagram DMs or fill out a Google Form.

"Usually, we post an event poster at least two weeks before the event, and participants need to register beforehand. The day before, we'll share all the relevant information, including directions and reminders, through the contact details they've provided. It also serves as a reminder in case anyone forgets they've signed up."

For now, Sidekues Club organises roughly one activity each month, as both founders work full-time. However, several members of the community have already volunteered to lend a helping hand, giving the duo hope that they'll be able to expand their offerings in the future.

Memorable side quests

When asked which Sidekues event left the biggest impression on them, the founders struggled to settle on just one answer.

For Adlina, the standout moment was the club's recent event, The Great Lino Social, where participants learned how to create their own lino-cut stamps.

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

"It's our first time handling a crowd of 40 participants. Compared to our previous quests, 80% of the attendees weren't people we knew beforehand, which means our community is growing."

She added, "We also kind of semi-blew up on Threads while promoting this event, which led to an influx of new followers. We were fully booked the first time around and had to open additional spots, which were also fully booked within a day!"

For Adlina, the event was significant not just because of the turnout, but because it showed that Sidekues Club was beginning to grow beyond the founders' immediate circle and attract people who genuinely connected with its mission.

Meanwhile, Yasarah pointed to Sidekues' first-ever outdoor activity, the FRIM Guided Walk, as her most memorable experience.

She recalled having to open an additional slot at the last minute after receiving an unexpectedly high number of requests from followers on TikTok.

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

"It was low-key surprising because we didn't expect any crowd from TikTok. It turned out to be such a fun experience, even with a smaller group," she shared.

"With the help of our amazing tour guide, Uncle Tony, we also prepared a small activity where participants received coloured frames to capture different moments and elements of nature through their phones. It was a simple addition, but it made the experience feel more interactive and memorable."

Although the founders differed on which activity had the biggest impact personally, they were quick to agree on the community's most unusual event.

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

They explained, "We would say our Sudoku Sunday was one of our most unusual side quests. It happened during Ramadan, and we wanted to organise something different from the usual Ramadan gathering, such as a moreh session, so we thought, why not have a morning Sudoku session together?

"To our surprise, people actually showed up, and some even came straight after sahur. It was such a simple activity, but it turned into a really wholesome morning where everyone could connect and spend time together."

Beyond the unforgettable events, Sidekues Club has faced its fair share of challenges behind the scenes.

For both Adlina and Yasarah, the biggest obstacle has been balancing their commitment to the community with the demands of full-time work. Finding time to sit down, brainstorm ideas and organise events can sometimes become a challenge in itself.

Still, neither founder sees that as a reason to slow down.

"It can be quite challenging, but honestly, that's also the fun part. We sometimes get too excited talking about the next side quest because many of the activities are new experiences for us too. It feels like we're not just creating an event, but also getting to experience something new alongside everyone who joins us," they shared.

The importance of having a community

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

To Adlina and Yasarah, the appeal of a community like Sidekues Club comes down to something simple: Malaysians generally enjoy connecting with others.

The pair also believe the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed how many young adults think about friendship and community. Years of lockdowns, online learning and social distancing left many feeling as though they had missed out on important experiences, creating a stronger desire for meaningful in-person connections.

"The COVID-19 lockdown caused many of us to miss out on a lot of experiences. I spent three years of my degree studying online. At the time, I wasn't able to have off-campus experiences like hanging out with friends, having lunch together or meeting people from different courses. I didn't get the chance to expand my social circle. I think people take those experiences during their student years for granted," Adlina said.

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

Yasarah shared similar sentiments. "I didn't get to experience my diploma convocation and had to go through a year of online classes during my degree. I missed out on many of the social experiences and moments that usually come with student life. I think many people can relate to that feeling of wanting to reconnect, meet new people and create new memories, which is what Adlina and I hoped Sidekues Club could provide," she said.

The founders also believe communities like Sidekues Club can play an important role in combating loneliness by creating a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable stepping outside their comfort zones and meeting like-minded individuals.

The future of Sidekues Club

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

From a casual conversation between two Instagram mutuals to a growing community of like-minded adventurers, Sidekues Club has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.

For Adlina, however, growth isn't simply about numbers. "I hope to grow the community consciously. We've been getting a lot of collaboration requests, but we're still filtering through them to make sure they align with what we want to do. I want people to see Sidekues Club as a kind of home or safe space that they can always come back to."

Meanwhile, Yasarah hopes the community continues creating opportunities for people to experience something new.

"At this stage, I just hope we can tackle as many side quests as possible. But beyond the activities themselves, we really hope Sidekues Club can become a bridge for people to meet new friends and find their own community."

Image Credit: Sidekues Club

As the community continues to grow, Adlina and Yasarah hope more people will discover not only new hobbies and experiences, but also the friendships that often come with them.

"If you're scared, do it anyway. You have nothing to lose and lots to gain. If Yasarah and I had given in to our fears, Sidekues Club wouldn't exist," Adlina said.

Having experienced that same hesitation herself, Yasarah echoed the sentiment.

"Sometimes you just have to push yourself a little and start exploring. You might surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it. And if you're looking for a place to start, maybe you can join us on our next side quest."

To learn more about Sidekues Club or join an upcoming activity, visit the community's Instagram page.

Featured Image Credit: Sidekues Club