KUALA LUMPUR (April 12): Gamuda Land, the property arm of Gamuda Bhd, signed a memorandum of agreement on April 6 with Kiddypedia, an educational event company, to introduce Kiddypedia Discovery Centres at the developer's townships, namely Gamuda Gardens in Rawang and twentyfive7 in Telok Panglima Garang, according to a press statement on Friday. 

The Kiddypedia Discovery Centres will offer edutainment experiences for families by integrating sports, arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workshops and team-building exercises, it said.

Gamuda Land chief operating officer Jess Teng said in the statement that the partnership with Kiddypedia aligns with Gamuda Land's commitment to providing more community-based activities to create a close-knit community. “We hope to develop a township with that hometown feel, a place where neighbours from all backgrounds and ages can come together to work, to learn, to shop and to play, where lifelong friendships are forged with the people they meet in the community.

“When we master-plan our townships, we are mindful of all the elements we bring together — from the landscaping to the infrastructure to the home design, to all the community meeting places. Everything we do has a reason behind it, and it all blends together to create a sense of community," Teng added.

With Gamuda Land’s township facilities such as the parks, waterways, lakes serving as the setting for the upcoming Kiddypedia Discovery Centres, the place-based learning programmes — which are co-developed with Gamuda Parks — will span across an entire academic year and expand participants’ knowledge of the environment, particularly in urban garden management and biodiversity conservation, the statement said.

Kiddypedia chief executive officer Cavin Tan said that the environment in the Gamuda Land townships is suited for the company's play-based learning centres. "These environments enable us to weave the classroom curriculum with the local community and culture, utilising the natural and cultural assets of the areas to enhance our learning programmes. Through immersive learning experiences that emphasise discovery, experience and play, we aim to deepen children’s understanding of the world around them, and inspire active participation in the local environment and community."

According to the statement, the programme's "100 Careers Challenge" syllabus will encompass various career pathways, with roles such as the Little Botanist, Little Urban Planner, Little Environmental Architect and Little Marine Biologist, to offer hands-on experience to reinforce learning and foster interdisciplinary teamwork.

There are also plans to offer participants the opportunity to visit Gamuda's Next-Generation Digital Industrialised Building System facility in Banting, based on the participants' chosen career path. "This initiative aims to provide participants with first-hand experience in modern construction methods and sustainable construction practices, which represent the future of the industry," the statement read.

In addition, the programme will incorporate field trips to the Wetlands Arboretum Centre at Gamuda Cove and the adjacent Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands to introduce and educate children on the importance and role of the wetland ecosystem.

“These out-of-school programmes not only enrich the overall educational experience, but also offer parents valuable insights into their child’s strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, they provide an opportunity for parents to connect not only with their children, but also with other parents, establishing a strong support network within the community. We believe that such collaboration significantly contributes to the holistic development of children, and promotes the overall cohesion of the community," Tan said.

The partnership will also introduce a children's club, GL Rangers, designed for children under 12 years of age.