As we bid farewell to a transformative year and welcome the dawn of a new one, let’s explore RYTHM Foundation’s accomplishments and triumphs in 2023.
With a steadfast commitment to positive change, the Foundation has consistently made a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Learn more:
Quest for Community Changes
The year surged into action with RYTHM and Quest International University (QIU) launching the QIU Community Impact (QCI) programme.
From digital literacy workshops for underprivileged students to greenery initiatives, the QCI is more than a responsibility. It is a cultural shift motivating the faculty and students to volunteer and actively contribute to their communities.
A Leap for Inclusive Learning
In a significant leap for inclusive education, RYTHM and Malaysia’s Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Ilmu Khas pledged in February to enhance educational opportunities for indigenous, displaced, and disabled students.
The partnership with the special education teacher training campus aims to bridge the learning loss gap by fostering long-term impacts such as developing targeted educational programmes.
From Makeshift to Mainstream
In March, we achieved a significant milestone in Pahang, Malaysia. Twenty-nine indigenous Bateq children from our Community Adoption Programme transitioned from their makeshift village school to a mainstream school – within just a year!
This and our Sekulah Bateq (Bateq School) initiative in their remote village exemplify our dedication to community transformation through education.
Advancing Indigenous Rights
In a groundbreaking convention, RYTHM and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) brought together over 30 experts to tackle the challenges Malaysia’s indigenous Orang Asli communities face.
This landmark conference in June delved into education, health, livelihood, and human rights with six sessions, adopting over 30 resolutions to address historical injustices, cultural marginalisation, and social inequalities.
Volunteer Visions
In August, RYTHM introduced the Volunteer Development Programme (VDP) in Malaysia, pioneering an innovative initiative to spark public engagement and boost youth volunteerism.
Since its start, the programme has drawn enthusiastic participants committed to community impact. VDP members contribute to education, uplifting the underprivileged, and promoting sustainable development.
From Stateless to Stature
Our adopted Bateq community stepped into focus again as 80 villagers took a significant step toward official government registration.
This turning point resulted from months of efforts and coordination between RYTHM, our partners, and local authorities to enable the essentially stateless villagers to finally gain recognition as citizens.
Education Amplified
The dynamic Maharani School Programme (MSP) has ventured into Negri Sembilan, marking the second Malaysian state to embrace this holistic training project for adolescent girls.
The MSP’s crucial initial phase is seeing trainers undergo intensive sessions to acquire the essential competencies to impart life skills, instil confidence, and inspire personal development among young participants.
Creating Safe Spaces
Recognising the importance of addressing girls’ safety in urban settings, RYTHM partnered with Plan India to launch the ‘Safer Cities for Girls’ project in Gautampuri, South Delhi. Over the three-year programme, girls and young women will gain access to safe public spaces, allowing them to move freely without fearing harassment or violence.
The project has already empowered hundreds of youths to actively prevent and respond to gender-based violence. In recent months, their efforts have also seen public parks in the colony made safer for girls and women.
Double Triumphs
The Foundation clinched two prestigious awards in 2023 to crown the year with distinction.
First, a Bronze at the 10th CSR Times Awards in India recognised our impactful collaboration with Mann Deshi Foundation, empowering young rural women in Maharashtra. RYTHM’s three-year funding transformed over 800 women’s lives, challenging gender stereotypes in employment across various sectors.
The second accolade, from the 10th Ghana CSR Excellence Awards, acknowledges our impactful collaboration with the ANOPA Project, utilising sports to boost confidence and promote inclusivity among deaf and blind children in Central and Western Ghana.
As we enter 2024, we look forward to another year of collaboration with dedicated partners committed to transforming the world, fostering a more inclusive future, and contributing to lasting, meaningful change for the better.
