PENANG, 8 January 2016 - In conjunction with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) St. John Ambulance Week 2016, its members are organising ‘Spread the Love’ (Sebarkan Kasih Sayang) project in an effort to collect used and unwanted items from the Schools and Desasiswa of the USM Main Campus from January 4 – 13, 2016.

According to the Vice-President of the Student Representative Council, Wang Wee Foong, the objective of this project is to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism among students by having them directly involved in organised activities that have impact on society.

“It was also intended to educate the students and society alike to care for the environment by recycling used and unwanted items that are still usable,” he said, adding that many things that we throw away can actually be recycled and used again including paper, glass, metal, plastic, and so forth.

He cited that this activity is timely as it was being carried out during the period where the students especially those who have just finished their semester exam were packing their things and clearing their hostel rooms before going for their semester break; there were bound to be unwanted things but still usable that they would want to throw away.

“Instead of having these items thrown away, our members will go over to collect them and store them temporarily at the St. John’s operational room at the USM Centre for Co-curriculum Programme.

“At the end of the collection period, these items will be sold at recycling centres nearby and the money from the sale will be donated to certain charitable groups,” said Wee Foong.

Among the Schools and Desasiswa that participated in this activity were the School of Social Sciences, School of Communication, School of Languages, Literacies and Translation, School of Housing, Building and Planning, School of Management, School of Mathematical Sciences, School of Humanities, School of Chemical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, School of Industrial Technology, Desasiswa Fajar Harapan, Desasiswa Aman Damai, Desasiswa Restu, Desasiswa Saujana and Desasiswa Cahaya Gemilang.

The project will go on until the end of February 2016.

Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah​