RYTHM Foundation and MyKita assist students from low-income families through Project Insaniah

One of the leading causes of people trapped in the cycle of poverty for generations is a lack of education. Education is often referred to as the great equaliser— it opens doors to jobs, resources, and skills for one to not just survive, but thrive. To assist students from low-income families and to give them a platform to develop themselves through education, RYTHM Foundation has joined hands with MyKita, a Malaysian NGO in Kerling, Selangor to launch a unique programme called Project Insaniah. Project Insaniah is a three-year community transformation programme targeted at deserving students aged 13-15 from low-income families and disadvantaged backgrounds, who are struggling due to lack of access to quality education. Developed jointly by RYTHM and MyKita, Insaniah is a holistic programme that seeks to train, coach, and mentor the students to help them develop into balanced individuals and responsible citizens. Young students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds not only face economic hardship but also encounter various social challenges that often make their transition through adolescence difficult. Project Insaniah is designed to explore and develop the untapped potential and talent within this community. The initiative includes coaching in core subjects such as Bahasa Malaysia, English Language, Mathematics, Science as well as training the students on Microsoft Office tools, coding, mobile, and graphic design training. The first batch of 25 students in the programme will also be exposed to livelihood skills training such as electrical work, air conditioner servicing, and vegetable farming. They will also participate in character-building activities as well as community service to help them cultivate civic-mindedness and encourage them to develop a spirit of volunteerism. During the virtual memorandum of understanding signing (MOU) ceremony, RYTHM Foundation Chairperson Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran explained the purpose of the new programme.

“Insaniah, means humanitarian, which is derived from the word humanity. Our philosophy of RYTHM, which is an acronym for Raise Yourself To Help Mankind, is about how we can serve humanity to create a better world. We hope that Project Insaniah will give these young students a platform to not just help their intellectual development but will help them develop into good human beings.”

The MoU signing was also attended by MyKita president Mohan Kandeppen and advisor Kumar Sathambrum. “MyKita subscribes to the belief that these youth are entitled to an equitable opportunity to succeed. Thus, together with the RYTHM Foundation, we want to play a pivotal role in making these youth believe that success is possible and to create opportunities for them to make positive changes in their lives,” said Kumar Sathambrum. Due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Project Insaniah will initially take-off via online classes and each student will be provided with a refurbished laptop. RYTHM Foundation will be working closely with MyKita to monitor the progress and track the impact of Project Insaniah through periodic assessments. Under this initiative, parenting workshops, home visits and structured family gatherings will also be organized to provide the students with a stable family support system. Last year, the Foundation launched the IMPACT (I Made a Pact to Change) initiative aimed at helping at-risk adolescent boys from disadvantaged families. Under the programme, 25 boys are being trained with vocational skills in areas such as electrical wiring, maintenance, and other fundamental life skills that will enable them to transition into higher-paying jobs upon graduation. READ: RYTHM Foundation & MySkills to provide skills training to at-risk boys through IMPACT