IREKA CARES CREATES FUN AND LEARNING AT FARM IN THE CITY
Kuala Lumpur, 20 January 2016: Right, hands up who wants to go to the farm? IREKA CARES took 29 children to Farm In The City, an urban farm in Seri Kembangan on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 16 January 2016. The children from Rumah Hope and Lighthouse Children’s Home (both in Klang Valley) loved it and the day was a real winner!
We were greeted by our guide, Ika who spent the whole time with us, patiently explaining about the animals at the farm and briefing the children about caring for the animals. There was definitely an educational focus with Ika providing the children (and IREKA CARES’ volunteers) with a lot very useful information about the animals themselves and their habitat.
Farm In The City was started three and a half years ago and this is a wonderful place to visit with children, especially the younger ones. Among the goats, cows and rabbits, there were ostriches, toucans, raccoons, 35 year old tortoises and even an African-crested porcupine to be found. The children particularly loved the pet village where they were able to stroke and feed the rabbits and they also loved feeding the giant turtles. There is even Longkang Fishing which had the children in squeals of laughter trying to catch the evasive fish – the most caught was only 5! Although the children were scared of the various species of reptiles, they were fascinated by the Albino python, the crocodile and water monitor lizard. The brave ones among us even stroked a reticulated python!
After 2 hours, everyone was ready for lunch during which time the children shared stories of their favourite animals. It was certainly an educational and fun day for everyone, big and small; and most of all, it was amazing the amount of things to see and learn at The Farm In The City. IREKA CARES really does it again!
According to IREKA CARES’ Action Committee head, Ms Fang Ai Choo, “The children had a ball and seeing the animals at the farm at such close range was a great learning experience for them and even the volunteers had a lot of fun too. The time spent together is special and we look forward to seeing the children again in March for our next activity.”
IREKA CARES is Ireka Corporation Berhad’s flagship CSR programme that has been in existence since 2010. It aims to build on Ireka’s expertise in Infrastructure, Real Estate and Technologies intending:
- To inspire all by helping to develop an ideal living and learning environment for underprivileged children.
- To maintain and sustain its CSR efforts through active and purposeful participation from volunteers enlisted from all staff levels across the organization.
Excited children having fun during the feeding session at ‘Turtle & Tortoise Farm’ and ‘Pet Village & Longkang Fishing’.
Children enjoy watching the parrot performance at ‘Kampung Mahmood’.
Children definitely having close interaction with many animals
Group photograph of the IREKA CARES volunteers and children from the Rumah Hope and Lighthouse Children’s Home at Farm In The City.