C. Angela, 23 grew up in a strict household since her mother, who is a single parent, would rarely let her out of her sight. “I never had the opportunity to explore new things and it was frustrating as my...

Kiera Elizabeth, 18 who is of Jamaican Indian mixed parentage was always bullied throughout her school days. “I was called names and bullied because I didn’t look like one of them. Over the years I got so used to it...

J. Sujietra, the former head of RYTHM Foundation recalls the first time when she and other Foundation representatives approached government schools to talk about the Maharani programme and request them to recommend participants for the pilot project. When she explained...

S. Hema Preyaa always had difficulty with saying ‘no’ and often found herself in situations where she was forced to do things simply to please others. “I have always struggled with this because I was afraid that by saying no...

C. Morgana, 20 grew up at an orphanage in Puchong, Selangor, after losing her father at the age of six. Her mother, unable to cope, sent her to the orphanage. Being a friendly child, Morgana made friends easily at the...

S. Yuvarani, 20, never used to care about her appearance or her clothes. Then, she enrolled in the Maharani programme two years ago, which was offered at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Kuala Lumpur. “The Maharani coordinators helped me...

Former Maharani trainer A.Chandra Mohan, 54 recalls meeting angry, disgruntled teenagers at the Maharani camps where he used to conduct trainings. “Most of the girls came from broken families. They didn’t have a good role model to follow or anyone...

P. Vilasini was 17 years old when she first attended the Maharani camp held at Cameron Highlands, Pahang. “The exposure I received at the camp prepared me for life at the university today. Unlike so many other students, I did...

Footprints mentor Jerrica Fatima Ann’s first meeting with her mentee Sri Priya, 16 was awkward. Jerrica spoke confidently in English while Sri Priya struggled to reply as she was more comfortable speaking in her mother language, Tamil. “Communication was an...

Teacher S. Jegatheesan, 53, has been among the first to be involved in the Maharani camps, during its initial days in 2010, in Sungai Siput, Perak, Malaysia. “When the Maharani programme was first introduced in Sungai Siput, it was tough...

C. Jinesyah, 23 had always wanted to volunteer for a worthy cause but did not get the opportunity until she joined the Quest International University (QIU) to further her studies. “Through the recommendation of my lecturer Ms Gogilavani, I joined...

As a Maharani camp facilitator P. Mathiarasi, 27 spends a lot of time with the girls who attend the camps. “I remember when I first walked in and met the girls, I greeted them in English and they all kept...