RYTHM Foundation has signed a Note of Understanding with a school in Selangor, Malaysia, to extend the Maharani Learning Lab 2.0 (MLL 2.0) initiative to more underserved adolescent girls within the school’s locality.
This collaboration between RYTHM and SMK Damansara Damai 1 (SMKDD 1) aims to expand efforts to include more students from SMKDD 1 and neighbouring schools in the densely populated Damansara Damai area.
The note was signed by Santhi Periasamy, Head of RYTHM Foundation, and Siti Norakma Kamaruddin, the school’s principal.
MLL 2.0 now features a new space for modern education and personal development in Damansara Damai. The lab offers after-school and school holiday programmes through academic support, digital projects, and empowerment workshops.
SMKDD 1 has steadfastly supported MLL 2.0 by hosting numerous events. A significant number of its students also actively engage in the lab’s programmes. Notably, the agreement engages the school in raising awareness of the initiative.
“We are excited to work alongside SMKDD 1 to uplift the surrounding communities and raise awareness of MLL 2.0’s benefits and impact,” Santhi emphasised.
“We are committed to expanding the programme to empower more of the young and deserving girls from this community.”
Siti Norakma remarked that an increasing number of her students had shown keen interest in participating in the programme.
“Based on the progress many of our students have shown, we believe this partnership will greatly benefit more of our students and contribute to their overall growth.”
Catalysts for Change
RYTHM perceives SMKDD 1’s students as pioneering catalysts for change in the locality.
“We expect their involvement in MLL 2.0’s programmes to empower them as advocates, challenging stereotypes, gender discrimination, and disparities,” Santhi said. “This transformation in the community can only occur through such actions.
“Other schools can greatly benefit from MLL 2.0. We encourage them to join our transformative programmes, as it can positively impact the attitudes and achievements of girls in their institutions, like the experience of SMKDD 1.”
The MLL began with a girls’ camp in 2010 and evolved into a learning centre 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 our 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 supports secondary school girls in 10 schools across Selangor and Negri Sembilan with similar activities for deserving beneficiaries.
