Participants posing for a group photo. The festival brings together residents, students, artists, scientists and activists through a range of activities and performances.
THE Little River Festival (LRF) with the theme “From the River to the Streets” returned to Taman Melawati, Selangor.
It was organised by Community Action Nexus Bhd (CANB) in collaboration with Jalan Negara Kita, SMK Taman Melawati and KLSketchNation.
CANB and Alliance of River Three (ART!) founder Kennedy Michael said this year’s theme took its cue from four flooding incidents in Taman Melawati over the past three years.
“These floods were caused by hillside development, increased siltation, reduced river carrying capacity and intensified rainfall leading to backflow into the drainage system,” he said in a media statement.
The festival highlighted how daily habits have an impact on ecosystem health. The bad habits could lead to floods and pollution.
Youths taking part in an arts printing workshop.
“Through our partnership with Lorong Seni@Jalan Negara Kita, this edition is truly community-driven, placing ecosystems at the heart of Taman Melawati’s social, cultural and economic life.”
The festival was supported by the GEF Small Grants Programme implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and co-funded by Sustainable Tourism Malaysia.
It brought together residents, students, artists, scientists and activists through a range of activities and performances.
The LRF was first held in 2019 at the Taman Melawati River Three SDG Park to celebrate 52 consecutive weeks of “Gotong-Royong Education by Action” (GREduAction!) by Friends of Sungai Klang Taman Melawati River Three (FoSK TMR3) and the Society of Eco Greater Melawati (SeeGEM).
These two community groups used a placemaking approach to restore the upstream section of Sungai Klang.
In 2022, CANB was incorporated as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and absorbed ART! as one of its business units.
ART! continues to manage the SDG parks and lead weekly river restoration activities.
The launch included a ‘capoeira’ performance.
To date, the group has completed more than 350 consecutive weeks of GREduAction!, marking a long-term commitment to restoring the Sungai Klang ecosystem by 2030.
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari launched the event.
