International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia

Sejahtera Community Project: Ruang Sejahtera communal space and sustainable urban farming at PPR Gombak Setia, Kuala Lumpur

The Sejahtera Community Project is a community placemaking initiative conducted by International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) with the low-income community in Kuala Lumpur, called PPR Gombak Setia. The project comprised of two major components, which are building a communal space called Ruang Sejahtera with the youth and training the community on sustainable urban farming. Both activities were geared at providing platforms to support good mental health after the pandemic, while teaching them new skills for their personal development and economic improvements and reinforcing their sense of place with their community.

Over one and a half years, the project garnered participation from community members from all ages and various cultural backgrounds through to 223 participants in the workshops and activities. The project was completed at the end of 2022. From 2023 to today, the community has continued to conduct their own activities at the communal space and urban farm, and further collaborated with other communities and organisations.

Top 3 Learnings

1. We learned that everyone has aspirations for their community and needed a platform to express and collaborate.
2. We saw how physical spaces such as the Ruang Sejahtera and urban farm are integral to placemaking.
3. We learned to adapt our academic know-hows to the community’s needs, potentials and limitations.