SERDANG, Oct 20 – Concerned about the future of orphans and underprivileged children worldwide, Benua Equestrian Stable (BEST), in collaboration with Islamic Relief Malaysia (IR Malaysia), organized the BEST Carnival – Traditional Horse Riding and Archery Show today at Benua Equestrian Stable, UPM.

The carnival aimed to raise funds for IR Malaysia’s Charity Week fund by selling horse riding and horseback archery show tickets, while raising community awareness about Sunnah sports activities from an early age.

BEST Carnival Project Leader and Senior Officer of Fundraising Division at IR Malaysia, Mohd Hafiz Ab Majid, said that around 500 visitors were attended to the carnival.

“Every year, Islamic Relief volunteer teams from various countries run Charity Week programs to raise funds for Islamic Relief’s humanitarian projects, focusing on providing aid to orphans and underprivileged children worldwide.

“This year, 21 volunteer groups have registered under IR Malaysia’s Charity Week program. Various initiatives and activities have been planned by these Charity Week volunteer groups to make the program a success. One of the activities held this year is the BEST Carnival,” he said.

Among the exciting activities offered to visitors at the BEST Carnival were horse riding shows, horseback archery, traditional Hungarian archery demonstrations, tent pegging shows, hippotherapy, fun archery shoots, joy rides, horse feeding, food and beverage booths, exhibitions, and many more.

Most of the booth participants at the carnival were entrepreneurs from the Growth Entrepreneurship Assistance Programme (GRAP) under IR Malaysia’s guidance.

Also present at the carnival were the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of IR Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, a representative from Putra Agriculture Centre UPM, Mohd Tarmizi Ishak, Chief Operating Officer of Benua Equestrian Stable, Tuan Hj Zakaria bin Hj Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of IR Malaysia, Siti Fadilah Mohd Hood, and Senior Manager of Fundraising Division at IR Malaysia, Sharmiza Husin.

Dato’ Sri Syed Saleh also delivered the opening speech for the event and officially launched Malaysia’s Charity Week, scheduled to run from 21st to 27th October with the theme of ‘Social Justice.’

Visitors expressed satisfaction and excitement with the horse riding, archery, horseback archery, and tent pegging performances by RT Equestrian Sdn. Bhd., Academy Awesome Archery, and 3Brothers Archery.

“This program is great as an introduction for kids. Not only the children were excited, but the adults were also thrilled to see and touch the horses up close,” shared Azalia, who came from Manjalara, Kepong.

40 students from Sekolah Rendah Islam Integrasi Az-Zahra attended the program, which was also graced by the presence of IR Malaysia’s Humanitarian Icon, Chef Imelda, and the Saujana Group.

Charity Week

This year, IR Malaysia’s Charity Week team aims to raise RM100,000 for underprivileged children and orphans worldwide, including in Malaysia and other countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Albania, Jordan, Iraq, the Philippines, Somaliland, Pakistan, Sudan, and the UK. Support now!