RYTHM Foundation’s Maharani School Programme (MSP) in Malaysia is venturing into an exciting new phase in Negri Sembilan, becoming the second state to embrace this holistic training and guidance project to empower adolescent girls from national secondary schools.
Envisioned to replicate the remarkable success of the MSP in Selangor, the expansion recently started with the training of a group of volunteer mentors from Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Raja Melewar, a teacher training institute in Seremban.
Like their counterparts in Selangor, these future educators and other volunteers will implement the MSP within selected schools in Negri Sembilan.
The MSP empowers 14- to 16-year-old girls to unlock their full potential and become catalysts for positive change within their communities alongside academic support. The Education Ministry-endorsed programme prioritises participants from the bottom 40% of income earners (B40 households).
Also read: RYTHM, PINTAR Seal Deal to Implement Maharani School Programme in 5 Schools
Empowering Future Educators
The two-day training session, conducted by consultants from the social enterprise servebetter, covered several topics to equip the new mentors with the knowledge and skills necessary to motivate their charges.
In the session on gender, for example, the participants learned about the significance of equatability and its profound impact on the lives of young girls.
The trainers also highlighted the importance of reproductive health education, emphasising its potential to give teenage girls the knowledge to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.
In addition, the training addressed the sensitive yet crucial issue of body image, among other topics. The trainees gained valuable insights into the profound impact of self-perception on the beneficiaries’ self-esteem and mental well-being.
Also read: Parents Applaud Maharani School Programme for Positively Influencing Their Daughters
Transformative Training Sessions
The trainees described the coaching experience as enriching and transformative, equipping them with valuable skills and insights for their future mentoring journey.
“My initial motivation for joining this programme was to make a difference in the lives of others. However, I have realised that it has also helped me grow. It is a two-way process where we improve ourselves to be more effective in helping others,” said Ahmad Aqil Taqif Dzulkiply, eager to start mentoring and embody the true spirit of ‘Raise Yourself to Help Mankind,’ the acronym for RYTHM.
Reflecting on the substantial impact of the RYTHM-developed Maharani Training Kit for the programme, Nur Fatihah Muhammad Affendi said the module will enable her to establish meaningful connections with her charges.
“This experience was creative and refreshing. The training kit is a game-changer that will help us create meaningful bonds with our students.”
As MSP takes root in Negri Sembilan, this group of trainers is primed to spark a profound wave of positive transformation, arming the beneficiaries with the essential tools to shape their own destinies.