IREKA CARES AT KAJANG
Kajang, 4 March 2017: IREKA CARES headed off to Kajang on Saturday for our first activity with Open Hands Children’s Home. The 15 children who live there love their art and so it was fitting to have local Malaysian artist, Jake Goh (well known for this sunflower and Koi fish paintings), spend the morning with them to teach them and the volunteers how to paint watercolours. Working on Jake’s signature theme of sunflowers, everyone started painting this on their blank canvasses.
The children were initially shy but this soon gave way to wide smiles as they enjoyed learning about brush techniques and paint use from a professional and Jake was clearly enjoying sharing his knowledge and skills with the budding artists. There was even a mini competition for the best piece of art, judged by Jake and the winners were clearly delighted to have won something for their efforts. Even the volunteers had a go at their brush strokes and the finished product proved that there is definitely some hidden talent amongst them.
Deputy Managing Director, Miss Monica Lai and Chairman of IREKA CARES Steering Committee, Datuk Lai Foot Kong came to lend their continued support to IREKA CARES and this is always appreciated by the children, their carers and volunteers alike. According to Datuk Lai Foot Kong, “I am always proud that at Ireka we don’t see the CSR programme as a tick-box exercise to just inform people what is being done to make a difference. Our “show-not-tell” model for IREKA CARES is something that I am particularly proud of because we ensure our staff work directly with the children as volunteers.”
Head of the IREKA CARES Action Committee, Najla says, “I am honoured to be the Chair for this year and particularly to be working with Open Hands Children’s Home in Kajang. As volunteers, we will work hard to provide activities throughout the year that are going to be enjoyed by all and that people are actually going to engage with wholeheartedly. It is brilliant that our first session on Saturday went well and I wish for many more to come.”
About IREKA CARES
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.