On 7 July 2026, we had the opportunity to sit down for a small discussion with a group of students from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management & Technology (TAR UMT). They introduced themselves as students pursuing a degree in Logistics, and they shared that their assignment would focus on understanding how a charity centre like Reuse Swap Store manages the logistics involved when donations arrive — from receiving and sorting items to organising and putting them on display.
We also had an interesting discussion about the challenges we face throughout the operation of our store, especially when it comes to handling different types and volumes of donated items. It was a meaningful conversation because it gave the students a closer look at the realities behind donation management, while also giving us the opportunity to share our experiences from running the store.
We ended our discussion with the students planning to structure their proposal based on everything we had discussed, with the intention of exploring and implementing some improvement suggestions later on.
And they certainly did more than just discuss it!
As part of their project, the students organised a donation drive campaign to collect items from their community and subsequently delivered the collected donations to Reuse Swap Store. We truly appreciate the effort, time and initiative they put into making the campaign happen.
But what made their contribution even more meaningful was that they did not simply drop off the donations and leave.
The students stayed to sort through the donated items, organise them and arrange everything neatly on our shelves and racks. Their hands-on help made a real difference, especially when there were many items that needed to be checked and organised.
They also took the initiative to observe our store and suggested improvements to the information and notices displayed at our front door. They helped us improve the presentation of the information and even assisted in putting the updated notices up on the door and walls.
These may seem like small things, but for a community-based store like Reuse Swap Store, every helping hand counts. 💚
We would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to all the TAR UMT students involved for turning their academic project into something that created a real impact. Your project was not only about completing an assignment — it became an opportunity to contribute to the community, support a circular reuse initiative and help improve the day-to-day operation of a charity store.
We hope this will be the beginning of more meaningful collaborations between young people, educational institutions and community organisations.
Most importantly, we hope to see more young generations taking the initiative to turn their ideas and academic projects into real-world actions that benefit the community and the environment. 🌱
To the TAR UMT students, thank you for your time, energy, ideas and willingness to get your hands dirty and help out. We truly appreciate your contribution, and we hope this is not the last time we work together! ♻️💚
From a discussion on 7 July to a hands-on contribution — thank you for making the project meaningful beyond the classroom.
Read also: Donate & Swap Barang Terpakai in Malaysia (KL, Johor, Melaka Guide)