RYTHM Foundation has officially launched the Maharani Learning Lab 2.0 (MLL 2.0), heralding a new chapter in our mission to empower marginalised adolescent girls in Malaysia!
The upgraded programme now includes a new space designed for contemporary education and personal growth. The facility, located in the underserved urban community of Damansara Damai in Selangor, supports students with after-school academic assistance, digital initiatives, and empowerment workshops.
These include coaching in essential subjects crucial for success in Malaysia’s national SPM examinations. Participants can also improve their digital skills with introductions to Canva, Microsoft Office, and coding, while personal development cultivates self-awareness, confidence, and leadership.
MLL 2.0 embodies a core RYTHM objective: cultivating a more equitable society where girls thrive, receive support in overcoming obstacles, and are empowered to pursue their ambitions.
“Every two minutes, a girl under 18 is married off,” Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran, the Chairperson of RYTHM Foundation, told the inaugural batch of participants during the launch. “If you do not stand up, seek independence, and fight for your rights, it will take 150 years to end child marriages and violence (against women) and ensure your right to education.”
“By societal practice, girls have lost a lot. We must regain what they have lost and empower them. Our vision is for deserving girls to emerge as leaders, supporting one another and empowering future generations within MLL and beyond.”
The Head of RYTHM Foundation, Santhi Periasamy, shared, “Girls can transform societies. But first, we must ensure they are given the means and opportunities to unleash their potential.
“That is our primary aim with MLL 2.0 – a platform where every girl realises her capabilities and becomes a catalyst for positive change.”
MLL 2.0’s Influential Changes
The MLL began with a girls’ camp in 2010 and evolved into a learning centre with diverse programmes in Sungai Siput, Perak, five years later. In 2021, we conducted a thorough programme review, with MLL 2.0 spearheading a strategic shift towards communities closer to the Foundation’s operational headquarters in the Klang Valley.
MLL 2.0 is a vital component of the broader Maharani initiative, alongside the Education Ministry-endorsed Maharani School Programme (MSP). The MSP currently supports secondary school girls in 10 schools across Selangor and Negri Sembilan with similar activities for deserving beneficiaries.
Both parents and students have described the MLL 2.0 experience as life-changing.
“I have observed numerous positive changes in my daughter’s attitude towards school and her future,” said Subhashini Muralidharan. “She eagerly participated in the lab’s activities over the recent school holidays and has new interests.
“I hope the MLL keeps reaching out to more teenage girls, helping them progress beyond school, homework, and exams.”
Participant Afiqah Umairah Asbarihan said, “The Maharani Learning Lab is more than about studying; it is where I can grow. The programmes have given me a voice and nurtured my potential.”
The MSP and MLL 2.0 align with the Foundation’s year-long #RiseWithRYTHM campaign, highlighting education’s pivotal role as a catalyst for positive change, expanding opportunities, and championing equality.
