In July, a team of six consultants from the Malaysia CSR team organized a charity initiative known as Toys for Joy. The aim was to bring together Capco Malaysia and individual clients to donate new and used toys to underprivileged children, while helping to address the massive challenge of plastic pollution.
“Most toys are made from plastic and 80% end up in landfills or the ocean,” says Rou Fui, Capco consultant, “so why don’t we donate and repurpose them?”
By chance, Rou Fui learned about Toy Libraries Malaysia, a social enterprise with similar objectives. That sparked the idea of Capco working together with Toy Libraries Malaysia to give a second chance to pre-loved toys and prolong their lifespan.
Toy collection started in early July, with the approach finetuned to make sure it was convenient for donors and collectors. Donors were encouraged to drop the toys to specific weekday drop off points, with an alternative drop-off point in the Capco Malaysia office functioning on both weekdays and weekends. There was also a toy pick-up service for any donors who found it difficult to transport large volumes of donated items.
In this way, the team collected a great range of items, from toys to storybooks, and even pre-loved children’s clothes, so long as they were functional and in good condition. “Throughout the journey, we were supported by our clients who helped us advocate for the initiative and gave it a very positive response, ” says Tze Min, consultant, who helped collect the donated items. “By end of July, we had successfully collected over 50 boxes of donated toys, story books, and children’s clothes from our colleagues and clients.”
The work did not end there. On Saturday, July 30, a team of 26 volunteers from Capco Malaysia, including family members, gathered together at SS3 Creation Hub (Toy Libraries Hub). They spent around four hours cleaning, sorting, reviving and repacking all the toys and learning materials, together with the Toy Libraries’ team.
“I brought my whole family to participate in this meaningful event,” said Johan Toh, senior consultant, “and they enjoyed themselves very much in what was a wonderful start to the weekend.”
“I was glad to bring my son to learn about the concept of circularity, reuse, and refurbishment,” said Celeste Chai, senior consultant, “and to learn to always be grateful and love his own toys!”
In the end, over 100 toy gift packs were packed with arrangements made by Toy Libraries Malaysia to deliver to native children in the Orang Asli ethnic group from the remote villages of Banding, Gerik Perak.
Datin PH Wong, co-founder of Toy Libraries Malaysia, witnessed the Saturday packing event and gave positive feedback to Capco volunteers for demonstrating their passion and care for children and the environment. “It would be great if we could go for more initiatives – let’s regroup for a Christmas gift repack for children, if possible!” said Datin PH Wong.
Since 2021, Toys libraries Malaysia, a non-profit organization in partnership with RE: Play Unlimited as a social enterprise, has worked on developing a community-based model for toy recycling and upcycling in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. They supported the re-opening of 42 childcare centers and preschools in Terengganu and Pahang with toys and play materials.
Toys Libraries X RE: Play Project Pioneer social enterprise aims to utilize play in facilitating community building, as well as to nurture one’s overall sense of well-being. They are dedicated to creating a Circular Economy for the toy industry in Malaysia - connecting public and plastic recycling stakeholders for unused/preloved toys to be collected & regifted for marginalized communities with little or no access to toys and learning materials for children. This approach to reducing inequalities in early childhood care and education will also prevent at least 100 tons of toys (90% of which are hard to recycle PVC) from ending up in landfill or the ocean. As a result, it contributes toward creating a safer and healthier environment while at the same time providing toys and play materials that help generate positive social-emotional development in children.
