Most of us do not think twice about flipping a light switch or pouring a glass of water from the tap. It is an automatic part of our day. But for the Orang Asli community in Kampung Kajang, Perak, those basic comforts require real effort.
Early this January, a determined group of students from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) packed up their gear and headed to Sungai Siput. They created a project called RE: City. The idea is entirely student-led and focuses on rethinking, rebuilding, and restoring how we live together.
Over two days, these students worked directly with 323 residents. Here is what they actually got done:
- Installed new solar streetlights to keep village paths safe after dark.
- Demonstrated and set up water filtration systems for cleaner drinking water.
- Planted Pokok Gapis trees around the area to support the local environment.
- Ran community health screenings.
- Hosted open, helpful sessions on women’s hygiene and sanitation.
At Verdant Solar, we hear the word “sustainability” every single day. Usually, it comes up when we talk about roof panels and home energy. But backing the RE: City project reminded us what clean energy actually looks like in practice.
It is a brighter street for families to walk down at night. It is a reliable source of clean water. It is about giving people the basic tools they need to live well.
This initiative would not have happened without the hard work of the Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) Perak, Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA), Lab UTP LMG, and Da Yi Ma (Roots and Shoots Malaysia). We loved being a sponsor for this trip. Real change happens when people show up for each other, and these young students absolutely showed up for Kampung Kajang.
