Tadika Senyuman Manja, a vital support for low-income families in Kapar

Free Malaysia Today

Run by Lata Rajoo for over two decades, the kindergarten with around 50 students, struggles to survive on limited funds.   📍Tadika Senyuman Manja  46, Jalan Hamzah Alang 30,  Taman Intan 7,  42200 Kapar, Selangor   Written and presented by: Theevya Ragu  Shot by: Fauzi Yunus  Edited by: Maheshan Morgan   Read More :  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/06/12/tadika-senyuman-manja-for-kids-from-low-income-families   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #TadikaSenyumanManja #LataRajoo #Kindergarten

Transcript

00:00Since 2003, this modest kindergarten in

00:29Kappar has been educating children from low-income families.

00:33Their efforts even caught the attention of UNICEF.

00:38It all began with teacher Lata, who made it her life's purpose to ensure no child from

00:44a disadvantaged background was left behind.

00:59In the early days, the kindergarten was located in a plantation estate, and Lata would personally

01:08pick the children up from Kappar town, driving several kilometers over rough terrain just

01:14to get them to class.

01:15When we come to the hospital, we can see no support.

01:18No support.

01:19So, first-first, we start getting paid for 30 days.

01:25We start getting paid for 30 days and then we get paid for 30 days.

01:30And then we get 10 days.

01:31They can start getting paid.

01:32Some parents are coming, some parents are coming.

01:36So, we can't find out, why are we going to take a rent?

01:42A couple of years ago, the kindergarten moved back to town, and after receiving support

02:12and media coverage from UNICEF in 2013, things began looking up.

02:16Around five years ago, the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit, Mitra, began funding them.

02:23Walk into the kindergarten today, and you'll be met with bright, smiled, and well-behaved

02:27children all eager to learn.

02:30Alongside Lakta, two dedicated teachers help run the kindergarten, where most lessons are

02:36taught in Tamil.

02:38Despite nearby Tamil schools offering free education, Thadika Sinjuman Manja remains

02:43full, with around 50 children enrolled.

02:46Latta is always looking to provide high-quality education, even receiving a master's degree

02:51of education.

02:52Latta is always looking to provide high-quality education, even receiving a master's in early

02:59childhood education just two years ago.

03:02Although grateful for the support from Mitra and other NGOs, Latta says they're always just

03:09scraping by.

03:10From stationary to electricity, water, maintenance and food, all are provided by the kindergarten.

03:17Extra activities and competitions are self-funded.

03:19Recently, a TikTok video about the kindergarten went viral, prompting kind members of the public

03:27to donate an air conditioner.

03:28Next, they're hoping to secure a playground for the children.

03:37I had to run in my classes at home at a home.

03:50I had to run without a dog. I had to eat it.

03:57I'm hungry. I had to eat it.

04:01I had to eat it.

04:06I had to eat it.

04:09I had to eat it.

04:12I had to eat it.

04:17I can't afford something. I'm still trying to stay there.

04:22I'm so happy that I am feeling like this.

04:26I'm writing a lot of stuff.

04:29Just to say, we have to go through anything.

04:32Just to say, we can go through everything.

04:37We can come through it.

04:40I will teach my children to our children.

04:47I will teach my teaching.

04:53I will teach my children to teach my children.

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