University of Cyberjaya Students Take Action to Protect Sungai Gombak Through Eco-Action Project

Students from the University of Cyberjaya (UoC), through the Environmental Volunteerism (MPU3432) course, organised the Sungai Gombak Eco-Action Project: Clean, Protect, Sustain on 30 November 2025 at Kebun Komuniti Gombak Utara, Selangor.

Led by the student volunteer group Silvanova, the initiative brought together university students, local community members, non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives and government agency representatives to promote environmental awareness and encourage collective action towards protecting the local environment.

The programme focused on addressing environmental concerns surrounding Sungai Gombak, particularly waste accumulation and river pollution, which pose risks to aquatic ecosystems, community well-being and the surrounding environment. Through hands-on activities, participants contributed to improving the cleanliness and appearance of the riverbank and nearby community garden.

The initiative featured two main activities: a community clean-up (gotong-royong) and a beautification and environmental engagement activity. During the clean-up session, student and community volunteers worked together to collect accumulated rubbish from the community garden and areas surrounding Sungai Gombak. The collected waste was gathered for subsequent collection by the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS).

Following the clean-up, participants took part in a beautification activity involving the planting of flowers and trees to enhance the community garden. The planting arrangement also incorporated elements representing the Selangor state flag, adding a meaningful local touch to the initiative.

The programme also included an environmental awareness session featuring representatives from NGO Grass Malaysia and the community garden leadership. The session provided an opportunity to encourage greater understanding of environmental stewardship and the importance of sustained community involvement in protecting local ecosystems.

A total of 58 participants took part in the initiative, comprising 37 UoC students, one university staff member, 12 community members, two government agency representatives and six NGO representatives.

Beyond its immediate environmental contributions, the project provided students with valuable practical experience in sustainability and community engagement. It also strengthened their teamwork, leadership and communication skills while fostering a greater sense of civic responsibility.

The Sungai Gombak Eco-Action Project reflects the University of Cyberjaya's commitment to nurturing socially responsible graduates who actively contribute to environmental sustainability and community well-being. The initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land. Through continued collaboration between universities, communities and environmental organisations, initiatives such as this demonstrate how collective action can contribute to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment.