Dr Valarmathy with the three other founders of the project, Chloe (in blue), Farah Ainn (back row, left) and Winnie (back row, right), with volunteer Olivia.

MOST people would probably feel that picking up trash is an unappealing activity, but not the eye doctor and nature lover Dr. Valarmathy Vaiyavari.

Kamini Manikam in a thematic Bharatanatyam Recital called Dancing With Shiva © Kamini Manikam

WHEN other 13-year-olds were frequenting fast food joints, Kamini Manikam decided to become vegetarian after reading a book about cruelty to animals.

WHILE reading a business report last month that listed Malaysia’s top 40 richest people (in 2017), it struck me that only one of them was a woman. And she ranks 19th at that.

I think I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who’s never had the jitters at a job interview. There you are facing a panel of stern HR people, your head a hodgepodge of “correct answers” to their potential general knowledge questions, your CV read, reread and proofread to perfection, your clothes striking the right balance of professionalism and comfort…