Image credit: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia
“The change begins with you, no one else. You have to raise yourself beyond the circumstances and challenges that come your way to be a better human being,” RYTHM Foundation Chairperson Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran.
These words by Datin Sri Umayal set the tone for an insightful feature and video by premier regional publication Tatler Malaysia about the work of the Foundation and the philosophy that drives us.
The interview is featured in the magazine’s ‘Power & Purpose’ series, highlighting Asia’s most influential thought leaders and changemakers in philanthropy, business, and education sectors.
Children and Youth at the Heart
In the feature, Datin Sri Umayal talks about RYTHM’s philosophy of self-empowerment, her views about holistic education’s role in uplifting communities, and applying these beliefs through the Foundation’s work.
She places youth and children at the heart of the conversation, leading readers and viewers to reflect on the kind of future we are leaving behind for them. “We need to equip them with what they need in order to be prepared to face the world.”
The article and video capture Datin Sri Umayal’s passionate advocacy of holistic education as a tool of youth empowerment and community development in underserved populations and also highlight flagship initiatives such as RYTHM’s Maharani Schools Programme (MSP) and the more recent Community Adoption Programme in Sabah.
Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran’s Bright Dream
She told an interesting story about the origins of the MSP, sharing that the first cohort in 2010 began with just 20 girls. In those early days, the programme operated out of a home rather than a formal office, marking its humble beginnings.
When discussing the impact she hopes the programme will have on these young girls, she says, “I wanted to empower them. I wanted them to think independently. I wanted them to build their future. I wanted them to have a dream.”
After years of hard work, a strong partnership with PINTAR Foundation, and the endorsement of Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, Datin Sri Umayal and her team took the MSP to 5 national schools, rolling out classes touching the holistic development of young women.
“This has always been my dream—to take Maharani to the schools at a national level. Right now, we’re testing it in five schools, and if it’s successful, we plan to roll it out at more schools across the country.”
As part of the programme, girls participate in sessions on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, cultural diversity, and physical and spiritual well-being, enriching their learning experience.
The article also spotlights RYTHM’s Community Adoption Programme in rural Kiulu, Sabah. Here, remote communities—relatively deprived of quality education and employment opportunities—are beneficiaries of an initiative that delivers academic support, livelihood training, and ecopreneurship programmes.
Seek Possibilities in Problems
Tatler Malaysia’s feature leaves readers with a powerful message rooted in Datin Sri Umayal’s philosophy: while setbacks are part of life, how we rise matters. Her belief is simple but effective—progress is achieved not by fixating on problems but by seeking possibilities that propel us forward.
Watch highlights of Datin Sri Umayal’s inspiring interview in the video below:
