Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: In conjunction with the holy month of Ramadan, 60 under-privileged children from three different homes within the Klang Valley under the Rising Star Juniors programme had the pleasure of Berbuka Puasa at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC).

Rising Star Juniors is a community sports project initiated by Asian Golf Industry Federation Golf Facility Member KLGCC with support from Yayasan Sime Darby and MST Golf Sdn Bhd.

The programme is the first of its kind in Malaysia that has its own host venue and specifically target talents from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing life-skills assistance and golf playing opportunities in order to produce successful, well-rounded and educated young golfers.

A total of 18 short-listed candidates have been selected from various homes in the Klang Valley to undergo an extensive two-year training programme.

The Majlis Berbuka Puasa event was hosted by Steven Thielke, General Manager of KLGCC, Dato’ Mustafa Mohd Ali, Club Captain, and Farroul Hossey, Club Manager together with the management staff of KLGCC.

The children, together with their caretakers, were greeted by KLGCC staff and were treated to a sumptuous spread of traditional and local delicacies, prepared by Senior Executive Sous Chef Sahizal Azrul and his team of culinary experts.

A presentation video of the Rising Star Juniors programme showcased the journey of the children during the assessment camp and selection of the final 18 candidates.

KLGCC Captain Dato’ Mustafa Mohd Ali said: “On behalf of KLGCC, we are delighted to host this Majlis Berbuka Puasa, and together we hope to reap the barakah the holy month brings. It is the time of the month for us to reflect upon ourselves and be grateful for the plentiful nikmat that has been bestowed upon us, while not forgetting those who are in need. We hope that through this humble gesture, these children get to embrace the Ramadan month in joyous mood.”

Thielke said: “It is important for the selected individuals under the Rising Star Junior programme to not feel isolated from their home. We at KLGCC will not only work with the individuals, but will also be a support structure for the homes as well. And this is part of our effort in contributing towards the welfare of these deserving children while connecting with them during this season of self-reflection.

“We look forward to make this a continuous journey where lighting the hearts of the less fortunate will be a year-round effort instead of focusing only during festive seasons.”