Our Malaysian chapter Vijayaratnam Foundation’s Maharani Learning Lab is officially one! What started off as a three-day ‘Maharani Camp’ for soft skills has now evolved into a year-long intervention programme for young girls from underprivileged backgrounds.
Serving as a home away from home for about 257 girls between the ages of 11 to 16, the Maharani Lab facility is a safe haven and a platform to complete their school work and assignments, pick up various skills such as baking, tailoring and house-keeping. The young girls also have the opportunity to learn flower arrangement techniques, handicraft making, and attend Bharatanatyam and modern dance classes.
Maharani Lab also supports the development of computer skills, creating opportunities for self-development and skills improvement. Raising the self-esteem of these young ladies and supporting their growth is one of the key aims of the project. Full-time dedicated counsellors are always at hand to support their emotional needs.
Datin Sri Umayal also handed out awards to the achievers from the first two batches of the Maharani Camp while certificates were given out by Puan Karimah Tan Abdullah, the Chief Executive Officer of PINTAR Foundation, a subsidiary of Khazanah Bhd.
Also in attendance were teachers, parents and students of Quest International University Perak (QIUP) who played a role as facilitators as well. We are truly proud of these girls and we hope that their learnings through this lab would serve them well in their future.
