Mikhail Raul, 17 has Asperger’s syndrome, a type of autism spectrum disorder that affects communication and social skills. Despite his condition, Mikhail loves to learn and try out new things. He spends his free time reading any kind of books...

Poonam Deshmukh, 20, has always been fascinated by cars and promised herself that she will own a car one day. “We have a motorbike at home and my brother owns a bicycle. But I am not allowed to touch the...

Thiruppathi Perumal was 25 years old when he was awarded the Sadguru Gnanananda Fellowship, which was funded by RYTHM Foundation to carry out sustainable livelihood projects in Kolli Hills area, near Salem, South India, in 2017. The son of a...

At the age of 13, D. Pragathi from Chengalpet district in South India, realised that she is a woman trapped in a man’s body. “My family did not support my decision to become a woman. In school and even among...

T. Sivakumari, 40 poured hot tea into the small cups in front of her before placing them on a tray. She carried the heavy tray carefully, placing each cup on the office desks before proceeding to collect the used ones....

Kalyani Pathak, 21, comes from a poor farmer’s family in Jaigaon village, a perennially drought stricken hamlet in the state of Maharashtra in India. Due to the low rainfall, many farmers in the village are stuck in a vicious cycle...

The Desa Mentari low-cost flats in Sunway, Selangor has been in the news for many years, for all the wrong reasons. Murder cases, drugs, gangsterism and social issues like vandalism, teenage pregnancies, abandoned babies as well as overcrowding and influx...

“If you were to ask any of my teachers about me, they will tell you how obedient I was in school. I always paid attention in class when the teacher was teaching but I was not a smart student and...

Social stigma and discrimination against people with HIV continues to be the main concern for those who champion their rights and access to healthcare. Persatuan Kebajikan Umum Malaysia (PKKUM) is an NGO that works closely with people affected and infected...

For the past one year, siblings Aravind, 12, Yuktisha, 10, Tashaliny, 8 and Hashiny, 5, could only watch with envy as their eldest siblings Vaishnavi,15, and Danush Paramin, 13, put on their school uniforms and went out to school. The...

QI Group staff Ree Joie Illao @ree_joie shares her perspective on what makes volunteers to keep coming back and volunteering. “I’m from the Philippines and live in Malaysia. I don’t speak the local language here, so I’m unable to converse...

Radeesh, 24, squatted on the slightly damp soil, his fingers lovingly checking if the brinjals in his garden are ripe enough to be harvested. Satisfied, he plucked them, and kept it aside for dinner later. “This garden, as small as...