“I joined the camp simply to make new friends. But I ended up learning so much, especially topics like self-management, gender equality, female empowerment and how to be mentally strong,” she said.“Apart from struggling with saying no, I have also had trouble with time management. At the Maharani camp, I learnt how to evaluate things and understand what needs to be prioritised and what needs to be sacrificed especially when I have to say no to someone,” Hema Preyaa said.

“I want to tell all the girls out there who have been in the same boat as me, to grab this opportunity to enroll in the Maharani programme. You can learn so much about a world that is different from your own and learn how to step out of your comfort zone,” she said.Hema Preyaa said Maharani helped her break out of her shell, expand her knowledge beyond classes and grades at school. She hopes with her achievement can inspire the girls out there especially from rural areas.