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Stories Of Change - RYTHM Foundation

Above and Beyond Boundaries

Amara Wichitong is Riding the Waves of Life – and Winning at It

How is riding life’s waves like navigating the ocean on a windsurf? To Amara Wichitong (above), they require ceaseless efforts…

For Undocumented Siblings, Education is No Longer a Distant Dream

The children of single father Ram (left) are among 140 stateless students benefitting from a textbook lending programme sponsored by…

Laibie Braves the Food Business with Community Adoption Programme in Sabah

Laibie Anting is an inspirational, brave, and determined woman taking her entrepreneurial venture by the horns. The spirited Dusun tribe…

How Our Community Adoption Programme is Helping Noah Progress in School

Noah Immanuel Tommy has always been a conscientious pupil who did well in his studies – until the COVID-19 pandemic…

Gift of Life Helps Jeremiah Nixon Experience a New World of Hearing

For all his young life, Jeremiah Nixon had to contend with challenges no child should ever experience. Born prematurely at…

Education Empowerment Through Laptops for Maharani Learning Lab Alumni

As the whole world has been forced to adapt to a virtual world for nearly everything - from shopping for…

Leading Sri Lankan Families Through COVID

“As much as the reality of the pandemic and death looms, people would rather die from COVID than continue to…

Diagnoses to Make a Big Difference to Special Needs’ Children

For a child with special needs, a professional diagnosis could be the difference between simply getting through life versus having…

Maharani Learning Lab: Building a Bolder Future for Young Girls

Three underprivileged students from the Maharani Learning Lab in Sungai Siput have had cause for celebration after receiving good results…

Community Service for the Soul: Footprints Project Enables Youth to Embrace Mentorship Roles

When Jinesyah Chandran was seven years old, she saw a hungry stray cat in school and her heart went out…

RYTHM Foundation supports socio-economic development of resettled families in Sri Lanka

More than a decade has passed since the Sri Lankan conflict ended, yet many parts in the Northern Province of…

Ayesha steers her life into a successful career, thanks to RYTHM Foundation

Ayesha Lohara, 21 and her two siblings grew up in Aundh village, in Satara district, Maharashtra, India. Her father worked…

Monisha finds her passion in drawing and painting, thanks to Maharani

If one were to walk into the Maharani Learning Lab (MLL) in Sungai Siput, Perak today, they would be looking…

Closer to her dream, Pavithra thanks Gift of Life initiative

Pavitra, 20 comes from a family of seven siblings. Her father works as a cooking gas distributor and her mother…

Second chance for at-risk youth – Arivarasu

M. Arivarasu, from Penang, first smoked a cigarette at the age of 12. “It was peer pressure and bad company,…

Former Head of RF Explains why being a part of Maharani was a Rewarding Experience

Every time she sees the girls who participate in Maharani camps, former Head of RYTHM Foundation Jayamalar Samuel is reminded…

Kartiyani enjoys Bharatanatyam, baking classes at Maharani Learning Lab

V. Karthyaini, 19 had a happy childhood. As the only girl among five siblings, she was the centre of love…

RYTHM Foundation helps rural school improve learning with smartboard sponsorship

When headmaster S. Jaya Kumar was transferred to the SJKT Kampung Simee Ipoh, Perak in Malaysia, he was determined to…

Malaysian indigenous community receives food aid from RYTHM Foundation

The clear sky was a welcome change for a group of volunteers from Persatuan Kebajikan Saudara Perak (PKSP) as they…

RYTHM Foundation supports Tamil school with a new library

When new headmistress K. Nalini arrived at the Ladang Atterton Tamil school in rural Negeri Sembilan August last year, she…

Preparing Malaysian preschool indigenous children for a smooth transition to primary education

Two years ago, Muskymi was a struggling preschooler who had difficulty speaking clearly in school. The indigenous child from the…

Maharani is a unique & wholesome programme – Karimah Tan

Former Pintar Foundation Chief Executive Officer Karimah Tan Abdullah recalls the high level of energy from the Maharani trainers during…

Boys and girls are equal, Maharani girls learn

R. Shrissha, 16, grew up in a household where gender roles were clearly delineated and predetermined. “I am the youngest…

Maharani programme offers young girls opportunities to be heard – Teacher Nadarajah

Retired school teacher K. Nadarajah was one of the earliest individuals who helped out in the Maharani programme by introducing…

Stateless sisters are in school, thanks to RYTHM Foundation-DHRRA Malaysia initiative

Sarah, 13 and Melinda, 12, (not their real names) are born to a Malaysian father and an Indonesian mother, whose…

Youth with Down Syndrome Finds Livelihood, Thanks to RYTHM Foundation-WDC partnership

Kosala Wedagedera, 24 was born with Down Syndrome in Sri Lanka. Due to his condition, he was forced to constantly…

Maharani gives confidence to girls to chase their dreams

T. Sheha was 14 when she first joined the Maharani programme in 2016. Being a friendly person, she enjoyed making…

Mushroom farming provides stable income to rural Jharkhand women

Munni Keshariyar, 39 years, lives in Palandu village near Ranchi in Jharkhand, India. Munni belongs to the Mahli Tribe (tribal…

Not afraid of speaking in English anymore, thanks to Maharani

K. Kumuthini is never shy of speaking to others but her biggest issue is communicating in English. “I can make…

Breaking the shackles of poverty through education in Vietnam

Thi Dien (not her real name) is from the northwestern mountainous province in Vietnam, one of the poorest areas in…

Back to school, thanks to RYTHM Foundation – Anopa Project partnership

Siblings Adwoa Nyamekye Mensah, 8 and his sister Adwoa Enyimpa Mensah, 3 were both born hearing impaired. Their parents Ismael…

Maharani helps girls understand themselves better, school counsellor Maureen says

Teacher and school counsellor Maureen was among the educators who were involved in the earliest Maharani camps held in Sungai…

Making a difference in the lives of girls through Maharani

Around six years ago, at a Maharani camp in Penang, Malaysia, one of the girls broke down during a sharing…

Philip goes to school for the first time, thanks to RYTHM Foundation

Growing up, Philip Obeng had no friends and was often lonely. His father abandoned the boy when he was three…

Learning about physical wellness, hygiene and safety through Maharani

The eldest of three siblings, Yee Huei Thung, 18 who prefers to be called Vanessa, loves make-up and is currently…

Hearing impaired Ghanaian children can now study without worry, thanks to RYTHM Foundation

Kojo Asante’s luck could not have been worse. The 39-year-old was barely making ends meet with at the small corn…

Sarvena thanks Maharani for helping to chart her entrepreneurship path

K. Sarvena first attended the Maharani camp at the age of 14. “It was fun and full of activities but…

Maharani girls show tremendous progress over the years – Teacher Nurul Aswa

Nurul Aswa Irwani Mohd Azizuddin, 36 has been a Maharani programme coordinator at SMK Datuk Haji Abdul Wahab school in…

Swetha finds courage through Maharani

S. Swetha, 17 said her biggest accomplishment to date is winning the first prize in the inter-school drama competition held…

Better livelihood initiatives for marginalised tribal communities

Social entrepreneur Pandi Ramesh Babu, 49 from Andhra Pradesh, India has always championed for a better livelihood for the tribal…

RYTHM Foundation supports reforestation in Uttarakhand

Neeru Arya, 45, struggled to take care of her family as her husband’s meagre income as a common labourer was…

Giving dignity to villagers in Bihar with integrated sanitary complex

It was a sunny morning in February 2019 and RYTHM Foundation’s programme manager K. James Raj was sweating profusely as…

Maharani Footprint programme: Positive changes in mentors and mentees

Quest International University Perak (QIUP) senior lecturer J. Gogilavaani reluctantly stepped into the shoes of the Footprints programme coordinator when…

RYTHM Foundation provides skills training to help Malaysian youth build better future

R. Deva grew up watching his mother being constantly beaten up by his alcoholic father. He was too young to…

Maharani programme taught me time-management – Mayzze

Mayzze Peter, 26, is from the indigenous Orang Asli community and grew up at Kampung Orang Asli, a village in…

A better disciplined Kerrthiga after attending Maharani camps

Reading about the frontliners battling the Covid-19 pandemic and risking their lives to save others made P. Kerrthiga, 16 realise…

RYTHM Foundation supports the education of an Indian farmer’s daughter

R. Niranjana, 14 wakes up early in the morning and gets ready for school. Armed with the lunch prepared by…

RYTHM Foundation provides skills to deaf Sri Lankan youth to become self-employed

Isuru Lakshan Weerasooriya was three years old when during a trip to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic he…

Maharani programme helps to focus on goals – Nalini

Growing up in a single-parent household, P. Nalini, 22, looks up to her mother whom she describes as her role…

RYTHM Foundation and Usha School of Athletics help Prathibha Varghese chase her athletic dreams

Prathibha Varghese grew up admiring her father who used to be a sprinter and jumper during his school days. Unfortunately,…

YWCA’s Angela learns to be independent through Maharani programme

C. Angela, 23 grew up in a strict household since her mother, who is a single parent, would rarely let…

Kiera finds a sense of belonging with Maharani

Kiera Elizabeth, 18 who is of Jamaican Indian mixed parentage was always bullied throughout her school days. “I was called…

Maharani programme helps teenagers blossom into strong, confident girls – Sujietra

J. Sujietra, the former head of RYTHM Foundation recalls the first time when she and other Foundation representatives approached government…

Straight-A student thanks Maharani programme for guidance

S. Hema Preyaa always had difficulty with saying ‘no’ and often found herself in situations where she was forced to…

Orphaned girl finds strength in Maharani programme

C. Morgana, 20 grew up at an orphanage in Puchong, Selangor, after losing her father at the age of six.…

RYTHM Foundation supports Sri Lankan entrepreneurs with free training

After finishing secondary education, S. Sasitharan began to look for a job but life in Killinochi, Sri Lanka post the…

First impression matters, Maharani girl learns

S. Yuvarani, 20, never used to care about her appearance or her clothes. Then, she enrolled in the Maharani programme…

Disgruntled, angry teenagers turn into well-adjusted individuals, thanks to Maharani

Former Maharani trainer A.Chandra Mohan, 54 recalls meeting angry, disgruntled teenagers at the Maharani camps where he used to conduct…

RYTHM Foundation supports Kulatheswary dreams of becoming a tailor

Kulatheswary, 36 from Chulipuram a village in Jaffna, Sri Lanka is married to Jeganathan, 40 a daily wage earner who…

Maharani camp prepares participants for varsity life

P. Vilasini was 17 years old when she first attended the Maharani camp held at Cameron Highlands, Pahang. “The exposure…

Autistic Malaysian teen finds sense of belonging through Care2Run

Kok Meng and his son Hahn, 13, have been actively involved in Care2Run’s Foundation Programme, which has been specially designed…

Maharani Footprint programme a rewarding experience for mentor and mentee – Jerrica

Footprints mentor Jerrica Fatima Ann’s first meeting with her mentee Sri Priya, 16 was awkward. Jerrica spoke confidently in English…

Maharani coordinator happy to see girls’ improvement after attending camps

Teacher S. Jegatheesan, 53, has been among the first to be involved in the Maharani camps, during its initial days…

Growing through mentoring | Maharani Footprint Mentor Jinesyah

C. Jinesyah, 23 had always wanted to volunteer for a worthy cause but did not get the opportunity until she…

RYTHM Foundation helps a Sri Lankan mother achieve her dream of becoming a beautician

Thenesh Madhavi was born into a poor family in Kunchankaladdi village in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. With five daughters, her father…

Maharani camps help young girls understand themselves better

As a Maharani camp facilitator P. Mathiarasi, 27 spends a lot of time with the girls who attend the camps.…

Footprints: Shaping Young Minds for the Future

Manasi Prasanna Karandikar, 39 from Mumbai, India has always been passionate about teaching young children. Pursuing her interest, she joined…

Shy Maharani girl transforms into a debater

The stories she heard from her seniors in school motivated R. Pennarasi now 17, to participate in a Maharani camp…

Tribal women in Manipur make a living as beauticians with help from RYTHM funded Social Entrepreneur

Social entrepreneur Hejang Misao is an advocate of female empowerment. He strongly believes that girls must be given equal opportunity…

How Thenmoley went from scoring Ds to As: A Maharani story

Clutching her examination results, P. Thenmoley could not stop smiling. “I couldn’t believe that I managed to score A in…

Behaviour changes through Maharani

Social activist Mangles looks back at her days with the girls from the Maharani programme, back in 2017 when she…

Children in conflict zone in India discover joys in life, thanks to RF funded social entrepreneur Hejang

During a visit to a rural village in Saijang, Manipur, social activist Hejang Misao, 41 gathered a few children in…

RYTHM Foundation joins hands with ANOPA Project to keep visual and hearing impaired Ghanaian youth in school

Darkness has been a way of life for Gloria Amoah, 19 (right) who was born visually impaired. A beneficiary of…

Thevathason glad to be part of home building process in Sri Lanka

Whether he was forced to join the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or because he truly believed in the…

Harshini learns to dream big: A Maharani Story

P. Harshini, 18, lost her mother at the tender age of eight. She was raised single-handedly by her father who…

RYTHM Foundation promotes menstrual health awareness in rural India in partnership with Parinaama

Usha, 51, starts her day as early as 4 am, as she prepares breakfast and lunch for her family. Armed…

Malaysian housewives turn businesswomen, thanks to RYTHM Foundation

M. Mageswari, 44 was working in a factory when found out about the free tailoring lessons offered by the Association…

Social entrepreneur helps Tribal farmers in Kolli Hills enjoy better yields

Social entrepreneur Thirupathi Perumal has been working towards helping the local community in rural Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu, India…

Timid Maharani girl now a medical student

“I used to be ashamed of my dark skin and wished I was fairer so that I would not be…

Maharani camps ideal for introverts

C. Abineshwary, who is now 21 years-old, shares her experience participating in a Maharani camp in Kepong, Selangor seven years…

RYTHM Foundation Partners with Water for Africa to Provide Clean Water in Rural Tanzania

Water for Africa (WFA) was started by an Australian couple who after witnessing the sanitation and water issues in Tanzania,…

RYTHM Foundation promotes sanitation and hygiene in rural India

The World Health Organization estimates that four per cent of all deaths in the world are caused by diseases resulting…

“My kids have names, identities and self-respect”- Story of a Special Education Teacher

My journey with Taarana began in 2016. I teach children with special needs in Basic Academic, Lower Academic and Pre-vocational…

“See the Able, Not the Label” – Advice from a Special Education Teacher

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders that begin early in childhood and last throughout a…

RYTHM Foundation reaches out to people affected or infected with HIV/AIDS through free meals

Isha was eight years old when she began to exhibit feminine tendencies. She preferred to play with dolls and other…

Malaysian teen on Autism Spectrum is now a confident Care2Run Junior Coach

Mikhail Raul, 17 has Asperger’s syndrome, a type of autism spectrum disorder that affects communication and social skills. Despite his…

Poonam Learns to Drive and Take Control of her Life

Poonam Deshmukh, 20, has always been fascinated by cars and promised herself that she will own a car one day.…

RF funded Social Entrepreneur Thirupathi Perumal changes the Economic and Social Fabric of Tribal Farmers

Thiruppathi Perumal was 25 years old when he was awarded the Sadguru Gnanananda Fellowship, which was funded by RYTHM Foundation…

Formerly ostracized Indian transgender woman, now a proud artist and entrepreneur

At the age of 13, D. Pragathi from Chengalpet district in South India, realised that she is a woman trapped…

RYTHM Foundation secures a future for Sri Lankan mother Sivakumari

T. Sivakumari, 40 poured hot tea into the small cups in front of her before placing them on a tray.…

Kalyani on track to become an Indian police officer

Kalyani Pathak, 21, comes from a poor farmer’s family in Jaigaon village, a perennially drought stricken hamlet in the state…

Educating at-risk Malaysian youth through futsal

The Desa Mentari low-cost flats in Sunway, Selangor has been in the news for many years, for all the wrong…

Hamsavalli finds courage to venture out: A Maharani story

“If you were to ask any of my teachers about me, they will tell you how obedient I was in…

RYTHM Foundation provides employment opportunities for the homeless in Malaysia

Social stigma and discrimination against people with HIV continues to be the main concern for those who champion their rights…

RYTHM Foundation helps Malaysian children stay in school

For the past one year, siblings Aravind, 12, Yuktisha, 10, Tashaliny, 8 and Hashiny, 5, could only watch with envy…

A Better Future for Struggling Sri Lankan Youth, Radeesh

Radeesh, 24, squatted on the slightly damp soil, his fingers lovingly checking if the brinjals in his garden are ripe…

RYTHM Foundation Offers Farming Skills and Opportunities in Tanzania

Hilary worked as a driver for a local Member of Parliament, but it was not a job that provided steady…

No More Bullying for Yu Yann – A Taarana Story

When Yu Yann who at the age of nearly three did not speak, her mother took her to the doctor…

Unique Education Plan for Zahra – A Taarana Story

Sales manager Zoeb Gulam Abbas, 40 was brimming with pride as he and his wife Zarina Shabbir, 38 watched their…

School outreach programme Offers Self-Development Skills and Support to Teenage Girls

Every week, teacher Azizah Begum Mohd Ismail has to turn away young girls who come to see her, asking to…

Maharani Helping Girls Stay Interested in School

Mathematics teacher G. Nadarajah used to have a headache handling the discipline of the students in the school, especially with…

Free Classes a Blessing for S. Tamilthasan’s Family – A Maharani Story

Working as a labourer in Sg Kurda oil palm plantation with six mouths to feed, S. Tamilthasan knows his financial…

School is Now a Second Home for Roshan – A Taarana Story

As the first-born child, Roshan’s birth was very much awaited and welcomed by the families from both sides. He was…

Shamita Confidently Chasing Her Dream – A Maharani Story

Having been with the Maharani programme for four years, Shamita is confident that she is inching closer to her dream…

RYTHM Foundation Sponsors School Furniture To Improve Learning Environment For Underprivileged Children

In 2012, the Global Partnership for Education estimated that 61 million children across the globe do not attend schools. A…

Empowering Young And Underprivileged Students With Educational Tools For A Brighter Future

Most of the students in SJKT Kalaivaani, in the state of Kedah, Malaysia come from poverty-stricken families. For most parents,…

Charvinder Kaur Discovering Her Inner “Girl Power” – A Maharani Story

Charvinder Kaur, 15, our Maharani Programme participant from the small town of Sungai Siput, Perak, in Malaysia, aspires to be…

Education via Sports for the Differently-Abled Children in Ghana

There are over 5,000 hearing impaired and visually challenged children in the Central Region of Ghana who live in isolation,…

RYTHM Foundation Helps Kajal Ahiwale in India Inch Closer to Her Dream

Kajal Ahiwale has broken all barriers to inch closer to achieving her dream of becoming a police officer. She comes…

Elavasari Dances Again, Thanks to Maharani

T.T. Elavasari from Sungai Siput, a small town in the state of Perak in Malaysia is passionate about dancing. Her…

Sharon Pushes Boundaries – A Maharani story

“My name is Sharon Panimalar and I grew up in Rawang, a quiet town located just outside of Kuala Lumpur.…

RYTHM Foundation partners with Usha School of Athletics to support Elga Thomas dream

Elga Thomas was born in Wayanad district of Kerala in the farming village of Karakkamala. The youngest of three children,…