“I longed to be with my own family and I missed being with my mother but I couldn’t change my fate,” she said.The orphanage provided her with a safe place to grow up where her basic needs were taken care of and where she was also given moral support. However, when she turned 18, as per the rules, Morgana had to leave the orphanage.
“I moved in with my aunt after leaving the Orphanage. But I was not happy living there since I felt like she was trying to control my life and as a result I was becoming quieter and more withdrawn,” she said.
A year later, she joined the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) at Kuala Lumpur to study culinary arts and baking. Through the YWCA, which has a partnership with RYTHM Foundation, she enrolled in the Maharani programme.
“The Maharani coordinators helped me to understand my strengths and gave me confidence. This allowed me to trust myself and make better decisions. I feel much more independent and confident now, thanks to Maharani,” she said.
Today, Morgana is an assistant chef at The Y Café at YWCA. She firmly believes that all girls should attend the Maharani programme.
“Maharani is a platform where girls like me who lack guidance, can make positive changes in their lives because not everyone is lucky to grow up in a family with parents to guide us,” she said.“I have always wanted to be a chef and when I was appointed as the assistant chef at The Y Café at YWCA Kuala Lumpur, I knew that I can now proudly tell people that I have achieved my dream,” said Morgana who wants to open her own western restaurant in the future.
Morgana said Maharani gave her an opportunity to see and believe that she can change her future.
“As someone who grew up without parents, I have gone through many challenges but the Maharani programme helped me to be who I am today. I hope this could inspire the girls out there to never give up on their dreams,” she said.
