Riang Rasa Mentari: Sharing Traditions, Building Care

cooking bubur
Desa Mentari

The Sunway Desa Mentari Community Development Programme team coordinated two community programmes with Sunway University students under the Community Service for Planetary Health (CSPH) module in March 2025, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan.

The first session, held on 15 March, was carried out with the residents of Block 9 and Block 10. Led by students from the Sunway Business School (SBS), more than 40 students worked together with residents to prepare and distribute nearly 700 packets of bubur lambuk. The collaboration fostered strong bonds, as students from various cultural and international backgrounds joined the community in keeping this local tradition alive.

The second session, organised on 22 March, expanded the effort to Blocks 1–8 through the anchor programme Riang Rasa Mentari. Once again led by SBS students, the session featured the bubur lambuk initiative, this time accompanied by date distribution supported by students from the School of Arts (SOA). 

The programme was further enriched through contributions from other Schools: the School of Mathematical Sciences hosted Math Carnival booths, the School of Medical and Life Sciences led interactive mental wellness activities and games, and the SOA presented a Wayang Kulit performance (Waye Kito), where students collaborated with Desa Mentari children to craft puppets and stage a performance at the Block 5 hall.

Separately, the School of Engineering and Technology (SET) supported the community with enhancement works carried out in the weeks before and after the programme. These included painting walls and handrails, repairing the futsal court net, installing solar lights with sensors, and conducting a fire safety training session at Block 5, where 10 portable fire extinguishers were supported for residents’ household use.

Through these efforts, the Sunway Desa Mentari Community Development Programme continues to bridge the University and the community, fostering shared learning, cultural appreciation, and long-term impact in Desa Mentari.