Indigenous communities often live in remote, rural areas and are cut off from the rest of society, leaving them out economically, socially, and culturally. This results in a cycle of poverty that they cannot escape.
The Head of RYTHM Foundation, Santhi Periasamy, recently highlighted the challenges faced by these groups in an episode of Selamat Pagi Malaysia (Good Morning Malaysia), a morning news programme aired on the national television network, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).
RYTHM funds several Orang Asli (indigenous people) communities in the states of Pahang and Sabah through our Community Adoption Programme (CAP).
The live interview in late July spotlighted the initiative in a Pahang village inhabited by the Bateq tribe. RYTHM manages the ‘Sekulah Bateq’ (Bateq School) for its children to learn essential reading, writing and arithmetic.
In another interview on the show this month, Santhi spoke about how the pilot Maharani Schools Programme with Pintar Foundation empowers girls from local schools with well-rounded holistic education modules.
In February, RYTHM and Pintar formalised the collaboration to integrate the leading programme in five selected schools in Selangor.
The collaboration seeks to enhance the education of girls from marginalised communities and mould them into confident, responsible, and civic-minded women.
Also read: RYTHM, PINTAR Seal Deal To Implement Maharani School Programme In 5 Schools
Watch the informative interviews with Santhi in the videos below:
Empowering Pahang’s Bateq Tribe Through Education:
The Integration of the Maharani School Programme in National Schools:
