Every time she sees the girls who participate in Maharani camps, former Head of RYTHM Foundation Jayamalar Samuel is reminded of her late mother. “My mother stopped schooling at the age of 14 and I was born before she turned...

V. Karthyaini, 19 had a happy childhood. As the only girl among five siblings, she was the centre of love and attention from her family. But the happy childhood was short-lived when her father met with an accident and passed...

When headmaster S. Jaya Kumar was transferred to the SJKT Kampung Simee Ipoh, Perak in Malaysia, he was determined to incorporate technology into the school’s teaching methods. The school is listed under the Malaysian government’s school transformational programme 2025 (TS25)....

The clear sky was a welcome change for a group of volunteers from Persatuan Kebajikan Saudara Perak (PKSP) as they arrived at the Pulau Banding jetty, in a remote interior part of Perak state in Malaysia. For days, heavy rain...

When new headmistress K. Nalini arrived at the Ladang Atterton Tamil school in rural Negeri Sembilan August last year, she was surprised by the poor state of the utility room which is being used as the school’s library. “The school...

Two years ago, Muskymi was a struggling preschooler who had difficulty speaking clearly in school. The indigenous child from the Orang Asli community in Kampung Sungai Poh in rural Malaysia was not even able to hold a pencil steadily to...

Former Pintar Foundation Chief Executive Officer Karimah Tan Abdullah recalls the high level of energy from the Maharani trainers during a camp several years ago. “The trainers were young, full of energy, and were able to connect with the young...

R. Shrissha, 16, grew up in a household where gender roles were clearly delineated and predetermined. “I am the youngest of four siblings. From a very young age, my mother had made it clear that certain jobs are best left...

Retired school teacher K. Nadarajah was one of the earliest individuals who helped out in the Maharani programme by introducing the programme to schools in his vicinity. His passion is not just teaching but also to train and ensure stigmatised...

Sarah, 13 and Melinda, 12, (not their real names) are born to a Malaysian father and an Indonesian mother, whose marriage was not legally registered. Their mother returned to Indonesia many years ago, leaving the children with their father and...

Kosala Wedagedera, 24 was born with Down Syndrome in Sri Lanka. Due to his condition, he was forced to constantly transfer from one school to another since he had difficulties adjusting to a regular classroom and the schools did not...

T. Sheha was 14 when she first joined the Maharani programme in 2016. Being a friendly person, she enjoyed making new friends at the Maharani camps and the Maharani Learning Lab (MLL). Today, the 18-year-old is grateful for the skills...