The Chronicles of 8 Part-time Thrash-Collectors.

28th of October 2006
0900
On one sunny Saturday morning, we started off with one car, and two Team Charlie members (CK and I). As planned, we did a door-to-door/ house-to-house collection at the area where we pre-distributed the flyers. With no idea of what to expect, we went knocking on the doors… well, not literally, we rang the doorbells, shouted (Helloooo…! Anybody homeeeee???), knocked the lock at the gate (for those without doorbells), get barked by dogs just to get attention from the person in the house. That desperate we were. However, to no avail, out of 15 houses, only 8 responded, and about 5, I would say, actually had something to give us. Some had newspaper, but claimed that they don’t (even though we can see it all stacked up at the side...). Some do have some newspaper and other scrap metals, but mostly the residence around that area is frequently visited by our day-rival: the paper-lama man (a man who collects recyclable items in a lorry)
Official state at that time: Annoyed, disappointed, upset, lost for ideas, burning hot, dripping with sweat.

1000
As CK’s kind friend, volunteered to help out for the day, I had to drive back to get her and another team member from KL Sentral. In the mean time, our one-and-only RIKL member volunteer came by to help out for the recycling day as well. (Due to unavoidable circumstances, last-minute notice was given out) Hopefully, this time around, the painting on Saturday will have better response from the large pool of members of RIKL. (PLEASE…?) My rough estimation: For one-day notice, one RIKL member, so, can I safely say for a 6-days notice, I can expect 6 RIKL members? Okay, back to my chronicle…
Fast-forward….
At 1130, we have a “larger” workforce; consist of an applauding amount of 6 people! *clap, clap*. We went on separate ways, one group lunch, while my car went around another area, targeting at flat this time around. Again, unsuccessfully, we tried a few houses, same result as the morning. We changed area AGAIN. This time I was trying to figure out where we were, got lost in the area (God knows where!), and then all of a sudden, literally got lost. Then fast-forward…. Ya-da ya-da….
While the other group, changed plan as well. They went to collect in big huge bungalows, where the owners have a store filled with loads of old newspapers.
Oh, while I was lost, we did manage to collect newspaper, and guess what? We went back with the whole car full of newspaper! (I was driving at 50 km/h)

Whole car full of newspapers

Lessons learned:
1) Always plan for the unexpected (“Paper-lama” man rounding every 2 hours to OUG);
2) It is OKAY to get lost once in awhile, you’ll never know;
3) Do not ever give up after the first try…or in our case we have second tries as well!

-Started raining at 3ish, so all workforces gather back at Angels Children’s Home.
We spent time with the kids, playing, talking… well, just basically hung out (?)
While we were waiting for the rain to stop…..

We were back to the serious stuff of collecting thrash from the neighbourhood, and now with a whooping “army” of SEVEN people!! Out we went to collect, and the results were quite satisfying, as we have learnt our lesson: target big huge bungalows. On, and on we collected, loaded, collected… until the cars were full. At about 1800, we headed back to the home. So, we unloaded the cars again and the result is….

Another whole car full of newspapers!!

More newspapers!!

I guess pictures speak a thousand words? So…

Half of Team Charlie IW Sept 2006 POSING!

Working till night…

Enough of pictures, get the idea, how much we did?
Wanna spend some time with the cutie super adorable children? (Check out for more details at the official website)

At the end of the day, I learnt not to underestimate our limited “workforce”. Besides, I realise how important recycling is, to the environment generally, and of course personally. (After collecting thrash for the past week, I expect myself to be a little more environmental-conscious). Just a little note to fellow helpful volunteers, from what I hear on the radio, 1 tonne of newspaper can save 70 trees; so my rough estimation for our Saturday (28th October 2006), fundraise + save-the-tree + help Angels Children’s Home mission, is very much well-accomplished. The least we know is that we save 105 trees from being cut. See? We benefited the environment as well. Public announcement to all: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

Lastly, a special shout-out to all who have helped: CK, Ling Ling, HL, Ezra, Christal, Wei Ming, and Adrian. Thanks for all the help!

Signing off with a sense of satisfaction, gratitude, achievement, and… (all the good feelings in the world!),

Kar Lye
(30th of October 2006)

note: This is my current fav quote:
“I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” - Helen Keller