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13 Feb 2024
By Bryan Yong
In the heart of Singapore’s urban jungle, Nagib has transformed rooftop gardening into a movement for sustainability and community connection. Through his initiative, Majulah Green, he uses storytelling and gardening to educate and inspire people of all ages, reconnecting individuals with nature and one another.
In a city-state where concrete outnumbers green spaces, reconnecting with nature can feel foreign, even impossible. But when I met Nagib Al Imad, founder of Majulah Green, it became clear that he sees the world differently. On a rooftop garden above a fast-food restaurant, surrounded by lush greenery, Nagib shared his belief that every plant tells a story.
“I’m not a city person,” he admitted with a smile.
Yet in the heart of Singapore’s urban jungle, Nagib has found a way to connect with the earth—and with people.
As we walked through his verdant haven, the smell of grilled burgers wafted up from below, yet it was the therapeutic scent of fresh soil and plants that grounded us. Nagib’s work offers solace—a place to literally and metaphorically touch the soil, reconnect with nature, and find balance. Something very much needed for many stressed-out Singaporeans.
“If you’re working behind a desk every day, when do you actually live for that day?” he asked.
This reflection prompted him to leave his job and embrace a life of gardening. However, it was never just about growing plants. For Nagib, gardening became a way to connect with others. He embodies the qualities of a patient and wise teacher, using the garden not only to cultivate plants but also to cultivate understanding, care, and action toward the environment.
“I’m not just a gardener. I’m an educator,” he explained. “Gardening is the medium, but my real goal is to teach people and connect with them.”
Nagib believes that education is most effective when it’s paired with storytelling. He takes everyday things—plants, food, life—and turns them into a good story that can reach anyone.
“Sometimes, I let the audience help build the story. A great story can grow, just like a plant, when everyone contributes”, said Nagib.
During his workshops, Nagib often begins by asking participants a seemingly simple question: “What did you eat for breakfast?” From there, he encourages them to think about the ingredients, where they came from, how they were grown, and whether they were truly safe to consume.
One of his favourite examples is the chili plant. Chilies are widely cultivated but often heavily sprayed with pesticides. Nagib uses this as a way to prompt holistic thinking about food sources and the environmental impact of commercial farming. Through these questions, he invites participants to see the bigger picture—how food security, environmental health, and personal well-being are interconnected.
It’s not just about the facts, though. Nagib’s style is conversational and playful, echoing the methods of ancient philosophers like Socrates. By leading people through a journey of questioning, he encourages them to arrive at their own understanding of how their daily choices impact the world.
Whether he’s describing the lifecycle of a plant or using humour and games to engage an audience, Nagib’s goal is always the same: to make people feel connected.
“Majulah” is the Bahasa Malaysia word for “let’s go forward,” a phrase familiar to every Singaporean from the national anthem. For Nagib, it represents a rallying cry for a greener, more sustainable future.
Nagib envisions his rooftop garden as more than just a place to grow plants—it’s a space for people to learn, connect, and reflect. While the space is still growing, he wants the garden to be fully accessible, so that people can see what’s possible when we work with nature, not against it.
Through Majulah Green, Nagib engages with communities across Singapore, from schools to elderly groups. One of the initiative’s standout projects turns schools into plant nurseries. Students foster fruiting plants like chilies, which are later sent to organic farms to be grown and harvested for the community. To him, he is teaching young people how to nurture and see their efforts contribute to a larger system—a cycle of care.
Nagib also works with the elderly, whom he affectionately calls the “silver generation.” For retirees who may feel isolated, gardening offers a way to connect with others, get outside, and rediscover a sense of purpose.
“It’s good to be under the sun, to get vitamin D, and to have people to talk to,” he said.
One of Nagib’s most memorable experiences comes from his work at a Cerebral Palsy School, where he trains students in gardening. He recounted a moment when a simple stick from a lemon tree, planted as a support for another plant, began to sprout leaves. Weeks later, it grew into a thriving lime tree.
“The kids were amazed,” he said. “It was a story of hope—proof that life can come from the simplest things. When you’re a farmer, you start to believe in miracles, because they happen every day in the garden.”
Nagib also shared insights about his upcoming project — the GREEN Initiative (Growth, Resilience, and Education for Eco-Friendly Neighbourhoods). He noticed a lot of unkempt community gardens that have been left unattended and turned into junk storage.
Hoping to unlock the potential of these gardens with his green thumbs, Nagib wanted to revamp as many as possible into inclusive and accessible spaces that foster sustainability, education, and community engagement.
Besides revitalising the green spaces, he also plans to teach local communities to take care after them and lead volunteer workshops one day.
“I want to transform these neglected areas into vibrant green spaces”, said Nagib.
When asked what farming teaches, Nagib didn’t hesitate. “Patience, friendship, and the importance of helping each other.”
To the Majulah Green founder, farming is about building a community. Farmers who grow plants together will be friends forever because they understand each other’s struggles.
Nagib’s connection to the soil is deeply personal. He sees himself in the Mediterranean cactus known as the prickly pear, or “saber”, which means patience in Arabic.
“Like the cactus, I’ve endured a lot, but I still give good fruits,” he said with a laugh.
Before we parted, Nagib shared a simple but powerful message: “Growing plants is not a secret. Knowledge is everywhere. Even if you don’t join me in my sessions, seek out how to grow your own food. There’s always space to grow something.”
Through his work with Majulah Green, Nagib has shown that reconnecting with nature can be transformative—not just for individuals but for entire communities. In the heart of Singapore’s urban sprawl, he has cultivated a new kind of garden: one that grows stories, inspires action, and reminds us all to touch the soil once in a while.
Majulah Green is a rooftop gardening initiative fostering sustainability. Based in Working Capitol, 89 Neil Road, Singapore 088849, Majulah Green focuses on urban gardening, environmental education, and community building. You can reach out to them on Instagram (@majulahgreen) or Facebook (/majulahgreen).
Bryan Yong is a freelance environmental journalist and chief editor for EcoCupid. With a background in oceanography and experience volunteering with youth environmental NGOs in Malaysia, he brings curiosity and enthusiasm to discover Southeast Asia’s environmental movement through his stories. Bryan is an avid traveller and loves local food the most.
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