IF YOU ever thought that the Twitterverse is only full of self-absorbed people sharing with the world their stomach contents, last night’s escapade and their total boredom at work, you’re absolutely wrong.

Twitterers do more than that, and can even make money out of it – for a good cause, mind you.

Just in case you’ve been in a coma for the past two years and have no idea what Twitter is all about, it is basically a social networking tool that allows users to post their thoughts (verb; Tweet) in 140 characters or fewer.

Stuffed to the brim with yummy cupcakes, hotdogs and ice cream, about 200 Twitterers from all over Malaysia gathered at The Mist Club in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, last Saturday to make the inaugural Twestival KL 2009 an unprecedented success.

Twitterers busy tweeting away at Twestival KL 2009.

Twestival KL was a massive Tweet-up (or a meet-up), and was the biggest gathering among Twitterers in Malaysia so far.

“We’re just here to give our support to the local Twitter scene. Besides, it’s also a good place to meet other Twitterers and see the people behind their nicknames,” said Kugan Kathegesen, 22 who was there with his friend Khaw Chia Hui, 26.

Besides the main objective to gather Twitterers and put faces behind the @s (the tool uses @username to identify people), Twestival KL aimed to collect funds for Destiny Starting Point, a home for delinquents based in Klang, Selangor.

All those who attended paid RM30 as cover charge donation (or RM40 at the door), and 100% of the proceeds went to the home. Funds were also raised via auctions of sponsored items. TV presenter Will Quah was the emcee for the night, while actress and former Miss Malaysia/Universe Elaine Daly conducted the auction.

By the end of the party, Twestival KL managed to raise more than RM11,000 in cash for the home. DiGi Broadband also pledged two desktop computers and Internet access to Destiny Starting Point.

“We’ve been praying for some support like this to happen, and the organisers here are like angels helping us out,” said pastor Stephan Swamithasan Samuel, the founder of Destiny Starting Point.

Pastor Stephan Swamithasan Samuel of Destiny Starting Point with some of the home's residents came on stage to show their appreciation.

According to Stephan, this is the first time since the home was established in 2005 that anyone had organised a charity event for them.

The home currently trains and rehabilitates 12 troubled boys and is in need of basic electrical appliances and proper mattresses for the residents.

The home currently makes do with public donations, but that is often hard to come by due to the stigma attached to delinquents. Just a couple of months ago, the home’s water supply was cut off as they could not pay their bills.

“We’re really happy that Twestival KL decided to help us out,” said Stephan. Other ecstatic individuals at Twestival KL were Ng Yew Eng and Louis Yap who managed to snag two of the most sought-after prizes in the lucky draw sessions.

“I came here hoping to win the prize from AirAsia and look at me. I got the tickets to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!” said 18-year-old Louis.

Kugan Kathegesen, 22, (right) and his friend Khaw Chia Hui, 26, were at Twestival KL 2009 to show support for the event as well as meet the Twitterers in person.

His buddy, Yew Eng, was the envy of the party when he walked away with a Lenovo desktop computer, which was what he had his eyes on throughout the night.

“I can’t believe that I got the computer. I was just here to support my friends,” he said.

Twestival KL 2009 was organised by a few random Twitterers who came together just over three weeks ago for a common cause. The Star’s R.AGE is the media partner.