For girls from low-income families in Malaysia, the path to a brighter future is often filled with obstacles such as limited resources, societal expectations, and a lack of access to crucial developmental opportunities.
And since 2010, the Maharani School Program has been working to bridge this gap and ensure that promising adolescent girls between the ages of 13 and 17 are equipped to take on every challenge with confidence. With over 8,000 beneficiaries to date, the Maharani School Program’s holistic, multi-pronged approach includes not just academic support and digital literacy, but also civics, life skills, leadership, and gender awareness, ensuring that every participant is prepared not just for the next steps in their chosen academic paths, but also for their future as Malaysia’s leaders, creatives, and innovators.
According to Santhi Periasamy, Head of RYTHM Foundation, “It’s all about giving them the tools they need to shape their own future.”
A New Milestone
Recently, the Maharani School Program’s Cohort 1 celebrated its closing ceremony at SMK Batu Unjur in Klang, Selangor. More than a meaningful commemoration of progress and transformation among the next generation, this celebration also marked the launch of the Maharani Alumni Program, designed for MSP graduates to remain actively engaged as they chart the next stage of their lives.
As stated by RYTHM Foundation Chairperson, Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran, “MSP is not just a program, but a movement. When we adopt a girl, we are actually empowering an entire community.”
Communities require healthy ecosystems to thrive, and that is the role that Maharani Alumni Program intends to play. With this new alumni network, MSP graduates can receive ongoing support while also participating in mentorship and collaboration efforts as peer mentors and role models in the community. This ecosystem is key to unlocking generations of potential and ensuring that impact truly lasts.
A brighter future for Malaysia’s young women
“With the right support, MSP can be scaled up to even greater heights, ensuring that more adolescent girls across the country have access to life-changing opportunities, and increasing the impact of the program,” says Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran.
The long-running Maharani School Program and new Maharani Alumni Program is geared towards ensuring the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education for All (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). Through these conscious community interventions, RYTHM aims to close persistent gaps in education and gender inequalities for marginalised girls, and ensure that the next generation can effectively participate in and contribute to modern society.
