Sunway University, Sunway Theme Parks Empower Desa Mentari Children Through Explorer Rangers

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Sunway University and Sunway Theme Parks recently celebrated the graduation of 19 children from the Desa Mentari community who completed the first cohort of the Explorer Rangers programme.

In a statement, Sunway Theme Parks said the collaboration was part of Sunway University’s flagship Sunway Desa Mentari Community Development Programme, which aims to bridge learning gaps by providing children with experiential learning opportunities.

The Explorer Rangers programme is an outdoor educational initiative that introduces children to wildlife, sustainability, and real-world learning within a theme park environment.

“Designed to make learning more engaging and hands-on, the programme encourages children to discover the world beyond the classroom while building curiosity, confidence, and teamwork,” the statement said.

It added that Sunway Theme Parks also aimed to leverage its unique environment, facilities and expertise in wildlife and edutainment to make learning more accessible and memorable for young learners.

"The programme also reinforces Sunway Theme Parks’ commitment to inspiring the next generation to better understand nature, sustainability and the world around them through meaningful, hands-on experiences," it said.

Over the past few months, the children completed 52 classes under the programme, including "Classes Alive" sessions that provided practical, hands-on learning to deepen their understanding of animals, nature and sustainability, while broadening their exposure to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The initiative also supported the wider goals of the Sunway Desa Mentari Community Development Programme, which focused on improving the quality of life through education, research and community development with an emphasis on creating access to learning opportunities and nurturing future leaders who were both caring and creative.

Following the successful completion of the first cohort, Sunway University and Sunway Theme Parks expressed their intention to continue building on this effort by welcoming more children from Desa Mentari into future Explorer Rangers sessions.

The collaboration has transformed the Explorer Rangers programme into a platform for discovery, growth and shared learning, enabling children to explore their potential while strengthening the connection between Sunway and the surrounding community, according to the statement.

-- BERNAMA