27,000
Dear students and friends,
Many may know one of my students, Wai Meng, from his online interactions. Wai Meng is a long time student of mine, and he has a strong passion towards environmental conservation… In 2010, he started an initiative within the Kechara organisation called the Kechara Earth Project (KEP).
Recently, I received news from Wai Meng that KEP made contact with ‘Clean the World‘, a non-profit organisation based in Florida. Clean the World recycles soap and shampoo products discarded by the hotel industry, and redistributes them to those in need. This way they improve the quality of life of the destitute through hygiene, as well as help the environment by reusing items that would have ended up in landfills around the world.
Clean the World kindly donated 27,000 bars of recycled soap to KEP for it to be distributed to the under privileged around Malaysia.
I’m glad that KEP has arranged to receive these soaps from Clean The World, as the benefits is two folds: it saves the environment, and saves lives through improved hygiene. Hygiene is a very necessary component for keeping illness and diseases at bay. I’m sharing a message sent to me by Wai Meng below, informing me about the soaps that he has received and how it will be re-distributed to the under-privileged, old folks, orphanages, natives and disabled people around Malaysia.
It is wonderful to see the many NGOs and activists receiving these soaps to be distributed to the people they service. I hope to see more initiatives such as this, as it brings great joy to me to see many people benefiting from KEP’s dedicated efforts.
Tsem Rinpoche
A Message From Wai Meng, founder of Kechara Earth Project (KEP)
27,000 Recycled Soaps!
Dear Rinpoche,
Good evening, hope this finds you well. I have recently imported 27,000 bars of recycled soap from Hong Kong from this organisation called ‘Clean the World’.
‘Clean the World’ started in the USA and then started a branch in Hong Kong, what they do is they collect soap from the hotels and they recycle them into new soaps and they donate it to homeless, third world countries, poor etc etc. I have heard that Hilton Singapore they work with DHL and send all their partially used soaps to Hong Kong as part of their Community Service Responsibility.
‘Clean the World’ (CTW) is a social enterprise, that the social part of their work is to provide soap for people to keep their hygiene and hence their health, it is an enterprise as their work gets a monetary support from the corporates. So they get grants and funds to carry on their work mainly from Hotels whom they partner with, as they know what CTW is doing.
Below are organisations and people who are NGO and activists, I have distributed the soap to.
NGO/Activist
- Friends of Vihara (linked to Brickfields Temple)– Contact: Dinah Lee/Chan Gim Kooi
- Bars of Soap – 3000
- Distribution – Orang Asli(OA) at a remote Orang Asli Kampung Kampung. Kemubu, this village is affected by the floods, they also provide service to remote OA in Perak. Old Folks Home.
- FB – https://www.facebook.com/
groups/viharafriends/
- United Sikh Front – Contact Rishi
- Bars of Soap – 3600
- Distribution – Soap for Orang Asli in Gua Musang
- FB – https://www.facebook.com/
UNITEDSIKHS.org - Note – They also have a helicopter to do their social and disaster relief work.
- Patrick Ong– A lone activist who services Orang Asli around Ipoh, he is quite well known for his devotion to the OA in Perak.
- Bars of Soap – 3000
- Distribution – Orang asli Kampungs in Perak.
- Nicholas Colin– Orang Asli Activist – aligned to COAC (Center for Orang Asli Concerns), a lawyer by profession.
- Bars of Soap – 3000
- Distribution – Orang Asli in Kelantan and Grik
- FB – https://www.facebook.com/
centerfororangasliconcerns , https://www.facebook.com/colin.coac
- Sai Sister Organisation Kepong– Contact Anny Kee
- Bars of Soap – 5000
- Distribution – Poor in Cheras/Kajang/Puchong/Orphanages
- FB – https://www.facebook.com/
SaiKepongBhajanUnit
- Sai Sister Organisation Kepong– Contact Ong
- Bars of Soap – 2000
- Distribution – People in Low cost housing at Rahman Putra/Kota Damansara/Sungai Buloh Wisma Harapan (disabled/blind/retarded)
- FB – https://www.facebook.com/
SaiKepongBhajanUnit
- Yang Berhormat Elizabeth Wong– Contact Danny
- Bars of Soap – 3200
- Distribution – Orang Asli in Selangor/Kelantan
- FB – https://www.facebook.com/
langkasuka?fref=ts
- Alfred Samuel who attends KSK– Contact Hor Tek Lee
- Bars of Soap – 4100
- Distribution – Orphanages/Old Folk Homes/
- FB – https://www.facebook.com/
alfredsamuel1983?fref=ts
Sponsors and Volunteers
- Tek Lee, Dato Alfred Soh and Cheah – helped to ferry soap to storage.
- Choo Weng Loong and Mr Prabagaran, sponsored the forwarding/custom clearance
- Clean the World – 27,000 bars of Soaps, and Sending from Hong Kong Port to Port Klang
- Lorry from Port Klang to Sunway Mas field – Sofi Lim arranged her company’s lorry with the help of Kok Siong.
- Wan Yee Mun for making initial contact with CTW via email.
Rinpoche I dedicate all these efforts at providing of recycled soap to the needy, may the hygiene and health they experience create causes towards Rinpoche’s well being, health and to be as pain free as possible.
Best Wishes,
Wan Wai Meng
Some pictures of the NGO/Activists receiving and distributing recycled soaps
Recycled soap donated by Clean the World, Hong Kong
2.7 tons of soap – 27,000 bars of soap received and collected after it cleared customs in Port Klang
Boxes of soap waiting to be collected by various NGOs and activists
Tek Lee, making calls to various NGOs and Activists to inform them that the soaps are ready for collection
All 27,000 bars of soap distributed to various NGOs and Activists
Anny Kee from Sai Sister in Kepong collected their share of recycled soap to be distributed to orphanages as well as under privileged families in Selangor
Sai Sister Kepong kindly distributed their supplies to various people, this orphanage, House of Love is one of the recipient
Anny from Sai Sister Kepong distributed the soaps to hundreds of poor families in Selangor
Anny Kee from Sai Sister Kepong distributed the soaps to Beautiful Gate Foundation, a home for the disabled
Residents in Beautiful Gate Foundation, happy to receive the recycled soaps
Ms Ong from Sister Sai Kepong collected 2,000 bars of soap to distribute to the disabled people in Sungai Buloh
Chan Gim Kooi received the soaps on behalf of Friends of Vihara
Mr Chan from Friends of Vihara distributed soaps to the old folks in Cheras
Mr Cheah, a volunteer, collected the soaps on behalf of lone activist Patrick Ong
Dato’ Alfred Soh helped to collect 3,200 bars of soap on behalf of Danny, Y.B. Elizabeth Wong’s assistant
Danny, Y.B. Elizabeth Wong’s assistant and volunteers distributed the soaps collected to the orang asli (native people) in Kelantan
Y.B. Elizabeth Wong’s volunteers distributed the soaps to the natives in Kelantan
More soaps distributed by Y.B. Elizabeth Wong’s volunteers in Kelantan
Nicholas Colin, a lawyer by profession and also an orang asli activist, collected bars of soap to be distributed to the natives in Kelantan and Grik
Jack collected the soaps on behalf of the United Sikh Front
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This recycling project should be continued so that there will be no waste soup and at the same time it help many unfortunate groups to improve their cleanliness and hygiene.
It is a very very smart thing to do, recycle the bar soaps and shampoos can save money, lessen the soap bars and shampoos that are supposed to be thrown away, it is very hygienic and we can put it into a good cost.
Really happy to see this, I am going to share with some members of a group I am a part of “Happy Ocean” plastic-free initiative, working together, from PEI, Canada.
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Erin…
Thanks so much Erin. PEI is absolutely beautiful, let’s keep it that way! By the way, being that you’re from PEI, you might enjoy this article as well: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=99924
Have a lovely week!
Hi Pastor Elena Khong
You just brightened up my morning and put a smile on my face!!
Thank you so much for this comment.
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Clean the World is the world’s largest organization recycling hotel soap.They partners with the hospitality industry to recycle and redistribute soap world wide to prevent unnecessary deaths from hygiene related diseases.They are doing good to save the world and for furture generation.Wonderful idea.
Rejoice to the kechara Earth Project,its wonderful able to protect the environment.With the 27,000 bars of soap received from Clean the World, they manage to distribute to many organisations.Many unprivileged people benefited from this project.Till today glad to know that the Kechara earth project still going strong with the support of many people.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
We rejoice to Clean the World because of their generosity to use their resources to make this recycle soaps and subsequently donated to the NGO and activists through Kechara Earth Project. This recycling project should be continued so that there will be no waste soup and at the same time it help many unfortunate groups to improve their cleanliness and hygiene.
The effort from Kechara Earth Project, sponsors and volunteers are also highly appreciated. Because without them, the NGO and activists from Malaysia may not able to enjoy this benefit.
Thanks for sharing Wai Meng. Glad to know that big corporation like Hilton hotel and DHL are working together with Clean The World in reproducing the recycle soap.
We should not bring more wastage that will eventually harm the environment. Hopefully this action will bring more awareness to more people and corporate world to participate in this good act.
What an awesome way to recycle soap. Not a lot of people would thought of it but we actually waste a lot of soap especially when we are at the hotels. Why? Because normally we would only use them partially or try to use all of them during that short period of time. Why do I say that it is a waste it’s because there are a lot of people around the world who are poor, homeless and most of them can’t even afford to buy toiletries. Some people even recycle the tip of the soda can to make prosthetic legs for the ones in need. I think pretty much every on earth is recyclable, it is only up to us whether we want to or not. So start recycling and make the earth a better place!!!
So good to see that there are people benefiting from this! 😀 May people around the world continue to donate for the betterment of others. 🙂 many thanks and congrats to everyone that was part of this project. _/|\_
Gosh that first picture clearly summarises where all our trash ends up! Unfortunately it’s ending up as a hazard to our environment. Plastic is not biodegradable and it ends up in our lakes and oceans being awkward and harming aquatic life too. There’s something called microbeads which can be found in exfoliating products / cleansers which are like plastic pellets. Since when did plastic start become a cleaning agent!? There is this great blog called trashisfortossers.com where this woman and many others in the world are following a zero waste lifestyle. This lady has cut out all unnecessary waste like plastic and over the last two years she has produced trash which can fit in a maison jar – there’s still a bit of space left!! Totally hipster lifestyle i know but if it saves damage to the planet then why not? Well done on this though Wai Meng and team.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.Wai Meng commitment towards environmental preservation and helping the needy should be applauded.
To many a simple bar of soap is a simple thing to acquire. For some,a simple bar of soap could be deemed as a luxury item.
For Wai Meng and his team to make it available to those in need at those far to reach places are truly remarkable.
May Wai Meng activities succeed in planting a positive seed in the society mind in order to gain public awareness and react in a positive manner to save mother earth.At the same time built a caring society.
Keep it up Wai Meng and your team….
This “Clean the World” truly does clean the world. It is amazing how far people are willing to go to help others. It is lovely to hear that all this soap is recycled and going to help people. Many people will be benefitted from this project. I am really happy for Wai Meng as he is able and does carry out so many selfless activities.
I think that this idea is a really effective means of helping others as it doesn’t only help people get cleaner and less susceptible to disease, it also helps planet Earth as there isn’t a whole load of soapy waste being dumped in the ocean.
Thank you Wai Meng and team for the wondrous effort and initiative. I can now rest in peace knowing that unused/leftover soaps can be recycled and distributed to those who can’t even afford basic necessities. We humans takes things for granted while the trash in the world is piling up and a single waste takes decades to decompose.
After reading this article, I now wonder what actually happen to all the bar soaps and bottle shampoos that the customer doesn’t finished using them? It is a very very smart thing to do, recycle the bar soaps and shampoos can save money, lessen the soap bars and shampoos that are supposed to be thrown away, it is very hygienic and we can put it into a good cost. There are a lots people suffering because they have no money to buy anything that they really need, and just water is not enough to clean your body properly. We need soaps and shampoos to kill the germs that we have on our body, and because some people don’t have enough money to buy these things, they ended up having rashes and disease on their body. I believe that these 27,000 bar soaps and shampoos are able to help the poor people who are in need.
Great job Wan Wai Meng. That’s some good work! Rejoice! And be clean!
Oh wooooooooow. What unexpected, pleasant, happy news to hear! Wai Meng, I’m completely and utterly stunned by this, and the creativity of the help you can provide. Amazing job!!!
What I thought was so clever by you PJA, was that you came up with the idea of distributing masks during the haze and got young people and Rinpoche involved. So I have been looking for a clever idea ever since, anyways I’m happy this action reached the ‘crever’ stage. I never forgot that and aspired to be as clever as PJA 🙂 . Anyhow I do hope i can bring in 90,000 bars of recycled soap next round to distribute, this time no sponsor for shipping from HK.
Anyways if u can think of something else to do in tandem with the distribution of recycled soaps let me know you always have very good ideas, would always be good to let Malaysians know that Kecharians do care a lot about other Malaysians :).
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the sharing. Great news, Wai Meng. I admire your determination and selfless work since the last you shared this with me.
With folded hands
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful news on the blog. Rejoice and thank you for brother Wai Meng and his team for successfully coordinating and distributing the 27000 recycled soaps to many less fortunate people who needs more help in order to keep themselves hygienic. Through this meritorious activity, the unfinished soaps can be recycled to save the environment from getting unnecessary pollution. This is another good cause to save the environment besides carrying out the conventional way of recycling activities.
It is such fabulous news for the under privileged people in Malaysia. Thank you “Clean the World” for creating the effort to collect unused soaps in all the hotels, and thank you Wai Meng to make the effort in contacting “Clean the World”. There are many Malaysian who are not so fortunate and they need a helping hand to give them a lift in difficult moments.
As i know Wai Meng is a quiet and very hard working person, i rejoice for his selfless work! Well done Wai Meng keep it up. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Wai Meng is just such a great person. Although he is a very quiet person, but he would always be doing things for others and finding ways to help others.
Rejoice for this news that so many people are benefitted by the kind actions of Wai Meng. Even during the festive period, he does not stop to focus on himself. Instead, he focused and placed his energy for others, bringing them joy and happiness this festive season as well.
Wow this is probably one of the best news I’ve heard during this CNY so far. Truly rejoice in your passion and tenacity in doing KEP Wai Meng and team!
It is truly wonderful to see this happening and I do hope KEP’s selfless good works grow even bigger to bring benefit to the world. Definitely inspiring.
Hope I can bring in 90,000 bars of soap next round 🙂 . Lets help our planet, by reduce, reuse and recycle!
Well done Wai Meng for starting this initiative to benefit the orang asli.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing Wai Meng selfless acts that helps many. For me, I have extremely grateful for his introduction me to Kechara Penang that pulled me closer to Dharma teachings.
Wai Meng, you are the first person to walk me in this Dharma path, I am profusely thankful for you have did. Thank you, Wai Meng!!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this meaningful initiative. Yes, there is no doubt that Wai Meng is a truly selfless person and a very helpful dharma brother despite his extremely hectic schedule. I am personally very impressed with Wai Meng’s tenacity in his wide range dharma work from guiding a new learner like me who is initially a customer of Kechara’s online store, VajraSecrets to providing countless dharma guidance and sharing from time to time. Thank you Wai Meng!
Great Job, Wai Meng. This is very inspirational and with great appreciation for the good work you have done. You have made Rinpoche and all of us Kecharians proud of your selflessness.
Thank you Datuk May for the kind words of encouragement.
Thank you for sharing this, Rinpoche. Excellent job, Wai Meng and the many others who were involved to make a difference. This is such a heartwarming article to read during this festive season as it reminds me of the many wonderful unsung heroes out there.
Dear Rinpoche,
Always wonderful to hear such news on environment preservation and non-profit services for poor people. May many people like that be benefited. Wai Meng has been very consistent and kind to carry out such selfless works. Ever since i met him on net, i was always fascinated by his ideas to take care of the wastes we produce and that we see around.
thank you