New lease of life: Mohd Faizal (left, seated, without mask) with his trainees and their custom-made recycled wood furniture. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: What others see as discarded furniture, Rekayu sees as potential to turn into useful pieces while giving underprivileged youths a chance to learn woodworking skills and earn a living.
Founded by Mohd Faizal Ayob in 2021, Rekayu is a social enterprise dedicated to teaching carpentry and furniture-making skills through the use of recycled pallets and pine wood.
“The idea to start Rekayu happened after my personal experience, when I first moved into an old flat.
“I had no basic furniture for a month because I couldn’t afford it at that time.
“Later on, I came across my neighbour who was doing his own carpentry work, making benches and shoe racks using discarded wooden pallets,” he said.
Surprised by the efforts of his neighbour, Mohd Faizal, who was unemployed at the time, told him: “This idea is brilliant!”
Both men then started working together and made dining tables and beds.
New lease of life: Mohd Faizal (left, seated, without mask) with his trainees and their custom-made recycled wood furniture. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
And so Rekayu enterprise was born, focusing on turning waste wood into functional furniture while also empowering youth from the B40 lower income group to rebuild their lives through skill development.
According to Mohd Faizal, many B40 families, especially those living in People’s Housing Programme flats, move into empty units without having the means to afford basic furniture.
“Their children study on the floor, and these families eat and sleep without proper tables or beds.
“In contrast, industries and households are discarding large amounts of usable wood.
“We saw an opportunity to connect these two problems by transforming discarded wood into affordable, functional furniture for low-income families.
“By doing so, we not only reduce waste and avoid deforestation but also restore the dignity and comfort of the less fortunate.”
Mohd Faizal said it was hard to convince people about the initiative until he collaborated with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to deliver furniture to the underprivileged.
Mohd Faizalguiding one of his trainees in the process of woodworking. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
“We began providing basic furniture such as study tables for children and dining tables for families.”
These were made from recycled wood collected from industrial areas in Puchong, Selangor, through NGOs.
Following this, Rekayu began getting more attention and demand began rising, especially following the major floods that occurred in Selangor in 2021, he said.
“During that time, we received a grant from one foundation to make 150 beds for the beneficiaries.
“It took us six months to complete the job, and because of this, I roped in at least four unemployed youths in Puchong.
“They all received income of about RM1,500 a month for the six months,” he added.
Mohd Faizal said this was their first and biggest project using recyclable materials and recycled wood to assist needy families.
“At first, I didn’t even believe the project would take off.
“The real challenge came during the process, as it was not easy to get recycled wood in large quantities,” he said.
Mohd Faizal said that to make just one bed, around 50kg of waste wood is required, and they had to manage their storage and check the quality of each piece to ensure a solid bed was built.
“We didn’t want the beds to be faulty or cause harm to the beneficiaries.
“Even though it’s recycled wood, the quality is still good.
“So far there hasn’t been a single complaint from our customers,” he said.
Mohd Faizal believes that scraps or waste material can be turned into something valuable, and they can also provide an opportunity for those who have not been successful in getting jobs.
“Many youth or ex-offenders struggle to find permanent jobs or a stable income.
“A few of them whom I met told me that they faced many restrictions that made it difficult for them to earn a living.
“That’s when I introduced Rekayu to them. Most of what we do is on-the-job training.
“When I have a project idea, I first create a prototype so that the youth who join us understand exactly what they’re building,” he said.
Among the items they have produced are dining tables and rostrums.
Mohd Faizal said his long-term goal is to have his employees undergo certification courses, like with TVET (technical and vocational education and training), to help them develop their skills and grow professionally.
“They’re still young, and I want them to have better opportunities, start their own families, and live a better life.”
He said that out of the more than 200 individuals he has hired, two were former offenders who are now successfully running their own small businesses in their hometowns.
However, Mohd Faizal said consistent funding remains a major hurdle, as most grants are short-term, while operations and training require steady cash flow.
“Besides that, manpower in logistics and changing mindsets about the value of waste wood are other concerns,” he added.
To sustain the business, Mohd Faizal also makes recycled wood furniture pieces for events.
“For example, we provide benches, pallet tables and stools for events,” he said.
Recently, Rekayu was officially appointed by the Shah Alam City Council to manage the Wood Circular Economy Hub in Section U16, where they collect, sort and upcycle wood waste systematically.
“Sustainability is most meaningful when it connects the environment, economy and people by turning waste into value and giving lives new hope,” he said.
Upon being named the inaugural winner of the McDonald’s Caring Hearts Award, Mohd Faizal dedicated the accolade to the entire Rekayu team, as well as the supporters and volunteers who tirelessly work behind the scenes.
“As a social enterprise, it’s not easy to be recognised in Malaysia. Receiving this award is an honour.
“With this platform, we believe that more Malaysians can also benefit from our initiatives while contributing to the circular economy,” he said.
“To all Malaysians, keep doing what you’re doing.
“Creating an impact doesn’t have to involve any high costs.
“Every initiative contributes to a better Malaysia,” he added.
For their noble efforts, Rekayu has been named one of the 10 winners of the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) 2025.
SGHA is an annual award from The Star that honours everyday Malaysian unsung heroes.
For details, visit sgha.com.my.
