Congratulations to our social impact initiative, RYTHM Foundation for being the recipient of the JCI Sustainable Development Award 2020 under the category SDG 4 (Quality Education) for its flagship initiative, the Maharani programme.

This award is a testament to the impact of the Maharani programme over the last decade in helping young, at-risk girls from marginalised communities in taking charge of their lives and rising above their circumstances to chart their own path.

Since the launch of the Maharani programme in 2010, the Foundation has worked with more than 8000 adolescent girls from low-income and disadvantaged families in Malaysia. Through a combination of self-discovery camps, after-school programmes, and continuous mentoring, the Maharani programme has given hope and opportunity to thousands of young girls from the B40 segment (Bottom 40% income strata) in Malaysia to look beyond their circumstances and pursue a better life.

The JCI Malaysia Sustainable Development Award, launched in 2017, is granted to sustainable projects conducted by companies, government agencies and NGOs that advance any of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Quality Education (SDG 4) is one of the RYTHM Foundation’s focus areas, alongside Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Sustainable Community Development (SDG 8, 11 &17).

The timing of the award could not have been better as 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the Maharani programme.  To learn more about the Maharani programme and read the stories of impact, please visit the RYTHM Foundation website.

The award was announced at the virtual ceremony held on Facebook Live over the weekend on December 26. Please watch below the acceptance speech by RYTHM Foundation Chairperson Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran.