World Beach Clean-up Day

On March 8 2008, just a day after the election – our PC collaborated with USM’s Diving Club in our very first Community Project for Quarter 1. The event – World Beach Clean-up Day - was carried out at Pantai Kerachut. The project’s main objective is to create awareness of the importance of ecological conservation and environmental protection.

We provided food to all participants in this event and we also sent a team of 43 volunteers comprising Managers, CSMs, Stars & Crew. The response to this outdoor community project was overwhelming!

Our team set out in a chartered bus by 9 am and arrived 45 mins later at Teluk Bahang, Taman Negara, Teluk Bahang. After a short briefing, we started hiking to Pantai Kerachut. Boy, it certainly was a good morning workout for us! As we walked and hiked, we came across some beautiful flora and faunas and we even saw a snake. We also joked that by the time we get to the beach for clean-up, we might be too tired already. But with the spirit of ‘McDonald’s Boleh’, all of us reached the beach after almost an hour of hiking.

Once there, we wasted no time in forming 4 teams. Each team had to list down all the items collected. So it’s not just picking up rubbish, it was tracking the rubbsh as well! Naturally, we learned that trash not only looks bad but is harmful to the environment and wildlife. Some could threaten human health and safety and indirectly cause communities to lose money.

We were informed that all data collected will be used to educate people and create solutions to the problem of solid waste and litter. Through partnership with business, government, environmental groups and citizens, we are helping to change people’s behaviors and bad practices.

A yummy McD lunch was served around 12:30 pm. After some rest, we hiked back to the other side. Some of us who were ‘injured’ (back pain / leg pain) had the privilege of taking a boat ride back while most of us had to hike back.

Overall, even though we were very tired, we were certainly happy to have participated in an important environmental project. It educated all those who attended on the importance of ecological conservation and environmental protection. And we are proud to represent McDonald’s in giving back to the Community!