Cultivating Change: Strengthening Community Leadership and Health through the Community Champions Urban Garden Programme

Abstract

Introduction: Urban gardening has emerged as a sustainable strategy to enhance food security, environmental awareness, and community well-being, particularly in urban low-income settings. Yet, little empirical evidence exists on how such initiatives can build leadership capacity and strengthen health promotion at the grassroots level.

Objectives: This study examines the role of 16 trained community champions in leading the Taman Kuala Menggatal Urban Garden Project in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It explores how guided participation, capacity-building, and mentorship enhanced their knowledge, skills, and confidence in promoting healthy lifestyles and sustainable food practices.

Methods: A community-based participatory approach was employed between March and June 2023. The champions underwent structured training in hydroponic gardening, nutrition, and communication. Two validated instruments were used: the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and a questionnaire adopted from Pierce (2012). Pre- and post-intervention data were analysed using descriptive statistics and McNemar’s test to assess changes in dietary behaviour, agricultural knowledge, and leadership skills.

Results: Before the intervention, 95.5% of households in Taman Kuala Menggatal experienced food insecurity. Post-intervention, champions demonstrated significant improvements in all measured domains. Fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 25% to 100% (p < 0.001), environmental awareness rose from 25% to 75% (p = 0.004), and leadership indicators—such as teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving—showed highly significant gains (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: This Urban Garden Project demonstrates how structured community participation and mentorship can transform local residents into agents of health and sustainability. By fostering leadership, collaboration, and shared responsibility, the initiative offers a replicable model for integrating food security and public-health promotion in urban Malaysia.