PETRONAS Adventure Team
2008 PETRONAS Trans Euro-Asia Expedition
News

PETRONAS Trans Euro Asia Expedition Visits Orphanage No. 1 "Murruvat" in Uzbekistan

Tashkent (Uzbekistan) - Members of the PETRONAS Adventure Team recently traded in their expedition gear for soccer boots as the team entertained children at an orphanage to a game of indoor soccer. The team who are currently on the PETRONAS Euro Asia expedition made a stop at the Orphanage No. 1 “Muruvvat” in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan on July 16th to participate in a PETRONAS community outreach programme.

In addition to engaging with the children, the team also donated sports equipment like soccer jerseys and footballs as well as vacuum cleaners to the orphanage. Speaking at the programme, Expedition Leader Halim Abdul Rahman notes, “This is the team’s second community outreach programme in the PETRONAS Euro Asia expedition, after the first one a week ago in Turkmenistan. While each programme has its own unique characteristic, this programme was fun for the team members as it gave us an opportunity to get close to the children, especially during the indoor soccer game and science show.”

Founded in 1932 in a private house, the orphanage initially housed 75 disabled and homeless children. Now located in the city of Tashkent, the orphanage is now home to 271 children. In helping the children harness their skills in sports and physical training as well as other skills; the children from the orphanage receive special training developed by the Ministry of National Education and Republican Centre of National Education.

An integral part of the expeditions are the community relations programmes organised along the route, particularly in countries where the title partners PETRONAS has business presence. The PETRONAS Trans-Euro Asia 2008 Expedition will see the team participate in several community outreach programmes in other locations including in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

A part of the PETRONAS Motorsports family, the PAT has previously embarked on nine successful expeditions in countries where title partner PETRONAS have operations in. Past expeditions include the Passage to Tibet in 1999; Indochina in 2000; Silk Road in 2001; Siberia in 2002; Africa Trek and Trans-Sahara in 2003 and 2004, respectively; Trans-Himalayas (2005); Nusantara (2006) and South Asia Xpedition in 2007.

The team’s progress, news and updates throughout the expedition is available through the PETRONAS Trans Euro Asia Expedition’s official website at www.petronasadventure.com.