Building on grassroots success, the programme unveils a national replication strategy and dedicated alum network.
KLANG, 18 JUNE 2025 – RYTHM Foundation announces the successful conclusion of the Maharani School Programme Cohort 1 at SMK Batu Unjur, Klang. This pivotal closing ceremony reinforces the Foundation’s dedication to bridging essential skills and educational gaps for young girls from B40 households in Malaysia.
Established in 2010, the Maharani School Programme (MSP) is an initiative that delivers holistic, values-based development to girls aged 13 to 17 from B40 backgrounds, helping them build a strong sense of identity, mental well-being, leadership capacity, and essential life skills.
To date, more than 8,000 girls across Selangor and Negeri Sembilan have benefitted from the programme.
Creating Continuous Lasting Impact
The event also marked the launch of the Maharani Alumni Programme, a dedicated platform ensuring MSP graduates stay actively involved and foster lasting connections after graduation.
This dynamic alum network is set to actively facilitate ongoing support, mentorship, and collaboration by empowering former participants to serve as invaluable peer mentors and inspiring community role models for future participants to create a positive ecosystem.
Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran, Chairperson of RYTHM Foundation, highlighted the broader purpose of the initiative, “The MSP is more than just a programme, it is a movement. When we uplift one girl, we empower an entire community. Our vision is to take this proven model nationwide, ensuring every girl, regardless of her background, has the opportunity to thrive.”
The MSP and Maharani Alumni Programme directly reflect RYTHM Foundation’s core values where the Foundation uplifts and amplifies the voices of young girls through quality education, preparing them to succeed individually and contribute powerfully to their communities.
“With the right support, the MSP can be scaled to even greater heights, ensuring more young girls nationwide gain access to life-changing opportunities and significantly amplifying the programme’s impact,” she said.
MSP Curriculum and the Road Ahead
The MSP curriculum includes modules on emotional literacy and mental health, communication and self-expression, menstrual health and gender awareness, leadership and social responsibility, as well as digital literacy and future readiness. These modules address the often-overlooked developmental gaps faced by young girls in the B40 segment.
Echoing this vision, Santhi Periasamy, Head of RYTHM Foundation, shared how the programme is being brought to life on the ground: “Our approach is holistic. We’re not just equipping girls with academic support, but also building their self-confidence, resilience, and leadership skills through community engagement and mentorship. It’s about giving them the tools to shape their own futures.”
She added, “We meet each girl where she is, helping them uncover their sense of self, build healthy relationships, grow into a confident leader, and learn to manage the everyday pressures of school and life.
To ensure every facilitator can deliver this journey with consistency and care, we’ve developed the Maharani Trainer Kit. This structured guide anchors our modules across four key phases, from self-discovery to leadership and time management. It’s how we turn vision into real, measurable change.”
Starting From the Grassroots, Now Weaving into Malaysia’s Future
The official closure of MSP Cohort 1 represents more than the end of a programme. This milestone reflects the Foundation’s continued commitment to ensuring that the impact of the Maharani School Programme extends far beyond the classroom.
It reinforces the Malaysia MADANI Education Reform by promoting equity, access, and community-based learning. It contributes to the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, directly addressing inequality and empowering marginalised youth. It also supports the government’s emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), mental wellness, and youth development.
As the social impact arm of the QI Group, RYTHM Foundation champions inclusive, community-based interventions across Southeast Asia, with a focus on education for all, gender equity, and youth empowerment. All RYTHM Foundation projects in Malaysia are carried out under the aegis of Vijayaratnam Foundation, its Malaysian chapter.
