Like all children, this young Mah Meri girl has dreams. She deserves to learn, play, and grow – not be forced into marriage. Her message is loud and clear: Let Me Learn.
The Mah Meri are one of 18 Indigenous tribes in Peninsular Malaysia. Around 3,000 live along the coast of Selangor. While their cultural traditions are rich, many Mah Meri children still struggle to access basic education. For some, school is too far. For others, poverty or outdated norms stand in the way.
📸 “Let Me Learn.”
Photo and caption by Loh Rachel (17), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
PictureMyRights winner – Child Protection category
The World We Want photo workshop
In 2014, UNICEF Malaysia organised a one-week children’s photography workshop in Kuala Lumpur. The event marked two major milestones – 25 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and 60 years of UNICEF’s presence in Malaysia.
To bring these milestones to life, the workshop adopted the theme “The World We Want.”
Over the week, twenty young people came together to tell their stories through photos – capturing what makes them happy and what breaks their hearts. This photo of the Mah Meri girl is one of those powerful stories. It speaks of inequality, tradition, and the ongoing struggle for basic rights – like education.
Through their eyes
Led by humanitarian photographer Giacomo Pirozzi, the workshop gave youth a voice. With a camera in hand and a message in mind, they revealed what the world looks like through their eyes.
The message is clear: every child deserves a fair shot at life. Let Me Learn isn’t just a caption – it’s a cry for justice, especially for children left behind.
Why it matters
UNICEF shared this story to honour World Day of Social Justice – a day to fight poverty, gender inequality, and exclusion. Education plays a key role in breaking these cycles.
When we say Let Me Learn, we call for a world that’s fairer, kinder, and more just for every child.
Let’s build that world together. One photo. One story. One voice at a time.
