By NewsGram Staff Writer

On May 16 (Teachers Day), the Government of Malayasia paid tribute to Malaysia-based Indian teacher, Madenjit Singh, for his excellent contribution in the teaching sector, after he was short-listed for the US $1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.

Born in a poor Malaysian family, Singh had to leave the school at the tender age of 12. The pain of poverty ignited a passion within him to work for poor children. In 2000, he built his own NGO where he started giving free education to poor children.

The school runs on the motto of "Men and women are equal. Stop gender discrimination." Based on these lines, the male students have to bring one female student to take admission in the school.

Singh teaches in his own NGO, 'Grassroots Development Institute-Science of Life Studies' (GDI-SOLS). The NGO offers a free and comprehensive two-year training programme, providing life skills for disadvantaged youths. It now runs 185 schools in remote villages of Malaysia, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Laos and India.

The NGO has won several awards and has been invited to expand its social work to other countries as well.

Previously, Madenjit has been honored by Berjaya Corporation Founder, Tan Dato' Seri Vincent Tan, and the Better Malaysia Foundation as the Personality of The Year 2012. Singh has also been adjudged among "Top Ten of Malaysia" for "Making A Difference."