The Journey of Promise and Progress for Children
"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future." – John F. Kennedy
As we wrap up the first quarter of 2025, I am pleased to share the progress we have made in advancing transformative initiatives for children, young people, and their families.
In this inaugural issue of the UNICEF Maldives Newsletter for the year, we spotlight our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families while empowering young people with the skills to advocate for change.
Among this quarter’s highlights, UNICEF Maldives collaborated with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization to launch the Mental Health Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029—a comprehensive roadmap to enhance mental health services over the next five years. We also partnered with the Ministry of Education to conduct the first-ever Joint Education Sector Review in the Maldives, a key step in advancing the national education transformation agenda, “THAIBA”.
In February, I visited Baa Atoll with colleagues from the Ministry of Education to observe the satellite school model and discuss ways to strengthen digital learning for students in remote islands. I was very impressed with what the Ministry has achieved and its potential to contribute to our goal of working with the Government to build a digitally enabled, inclusive, and equitable education system for every child.
Our advocacy and commitment to safeguarding child rights remained unchanged. At UNICEF, we believe that every child—especially the most vulnerable, including those in conflict with the law—deserves a nurturing environment and a second chance to reclaim their developmental journey.
We continue to emphasise the vital role of families in a child's development. Through our Positive Parenting flagship initiative, we advocated for nurturing family bonds to lay a strong foundation for children's physical, social, and intellectual development.
Recognising the crucial role of law enforcement in child protection, UNICEF supported the Maldives Police Service in hosting a national conference focused on strengthening child- and family-centered policing practices.
Looking ahead, we are excited to work with our partners to celebrate National Children's Day in May, under the theme "For Every Child, a Family." From high-level advocacy to hands-on interventions, ensuring that children grow up in safe, supportive, and thriving family environments will continue to guide and drive our work.
On behalf of the entire UNICEF Maldives team, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our partners and supporters. We look forward to continuing our work together—for every child.
– UNICEF Representative to the Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai
Safer Internet Day 2025
Collective Impact Platform on Online Safety
To mark this year’s Safer Internet Day (11 February), we launched the Collective Impact Platform on Online Safety, bringing together stakeholders across different sectors to address gaps, share insights, and identify multi-sectoral opportunities to build a safer, more inclusive digital future for children in the Maldives.
Consultations on Online Safety with Young People
Recognising online safety as a fundamental child rights issue, our ‘Rakkaatheri,’ ‘Baaruveri,’ and ‘Kihineh?’ led consultations with young people to get their insights on the current digital landscape, their concerns and opinions to build a safer online space.
Empowering Parents Against Digital Risks
We carried out a virtual session on digital safety for parents, highlighting ways to identify and prevent online exploitation and cyberbullying.
This session was a joint effort of our Positive Parenting flagship, ‘Beleniveriyaa’ and ‘Rakkaatheri,’ flagship on Preventing & Responding to Violence Against Children.
Safer Internet Day Social Media Campaign
We also engaged in social media messaging throughout the month of February, centred around online safety, aiming to raise awareness amongst young people and parents on both the benefits and dangers of the digital space.
Beleniveriyaa: Positive Parenting
Family Health Forum with SO Olympics
In partnership with Special Olympics Maldives (SO Maldives), we held Family Health Forum sessions in Male’, Hulhumale’ and Villimale, targeting parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Over 60 parents participated in these sessions, which focused on parenting styles, self-care for parents and parenting for children of different ages.
Physical & Virtual Parenting Sessions
We collaborated with Hafthares – an atoll-wide programme by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information & Arts and the National Counter Terrorism Centre – to conduct parenting sessions in Alif Dhaalu Mahibadhoo for 227 participants.
During this Ramadan, we also collaborated with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to deliver a session on parenting in an Islamic perspective.
Kaigen Hin’gamaa & Kihineh?: Health & Well-being
Launching National Mental Health Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029
UNICEF and WHO supported the Government, led by the Ministry of Health and the National Mental Health Department, in formulating the National Mental Health Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 which was launched on 26 February 2025.
Spanning across five years, the action plan outlines key measures to strengthen mental health services and treatment facilities as well as promote overall mental well-being of people across the Maldives – reflecting a shared commitment to create a resilient, inclusive and accessible mental health system in the country.
“Mental health is a right, not a privilege & no one—especially children & young people—should suffer in silence.” – UNICEF Representative to the Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai
Voices for Action: Empowering Mental Health Advocates in the Digital Age
As part of the national ‘Kihineh?’ campaign to promote mental health, UNICEF and the National Mental Health Department conducted a training workshop for social media influencers, healthcare professionals and civil society organisations on how to utilise digital tools and leverage social media to better advocate for mental health issues.
Strengthening Health Systems for Early Screening
We worked with the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the Health Protection Agency to finalise a simplified checklist for parents to self-screen delayed growth and potential disabilities in the first year of life.
Additionally, the Maldives Integrated Health Information System – an online portal by the Ministry of Health, initiated with support of UNICEF and WHO – has introduced nutrition status and development milestones tracking module launched on January 2025 to systemise the monthly growth monitoring tracking of infants and children in public health facilities.
Advancing Primary & Community Healthcare
In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Maldives National University (MNU), UNICEF conducted the stakeholder validation meeting on reviewing the university’s Primary Health Care (PHC) degree course.
We also held a learning exchange workshop for civil society organisations and health workers from various islands across Maldives, aiming to improve preventative outreach through community engagement.
Additionally, we also supported the government in introducing new regulations governing food advertising, aiming to protect consumers, especially children, from harmful advertising and marketing practices.
Promoting Early Detection & Prevention
In line with efforts to promote early detection and increase prevention of noncommunicable diseases as well as to promote healthy diet, physical activities and mental wellbeing in our communities, we held health screenings booths with partners on Male’ for World Cancer Day 2025, in Hulhumale’ Phase II as well as in Laamu Gan.
Additionally, we also collaborated with VCare Counselling and Ministry of Health to carry out mental health screenings for young people, aiming to promote psychosocial well-being and strengthen early detection.
Well-being Hangout for Young People
As part of our ‘Kihineh?’ flagship’s objective to equip young people with knowledge about mental health and skills for self-care and coping, we kicked off this year’s series of Well-being Hangouts with a session this quarter.
These sessions aim to create a safe and open space for young people to connect, discuss mental health, challenge misconceptions, and normalise seeking help and open conversations.
Climate Resilient Actions
Climate Guardians in Action
Our Climate Guardians had an A.I.R – Avoid. Intercept. Redesign – hybrid session with Parley Maldives on plastic pollution, its impacts and strategies on how to protect our oceans and islands.
Additionally, the Climate Guardians cohort based in Laamu Atoll, ‘ThiVelaa’ also organised a cleanup event, partnering with Parley Maldives to collect litter and debris from the beach.
Maldives' Nationally Determined Contributions 3.0
We supported the Government in the process of developing and finalising the Maldives' Third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
The report reflected the voices and perspectives of young people, including UNICEF Maldives' Climate Guardians, and we congratulate the government for ensuring that the next ten years' climate strategy is child- and youth-friendly.
Protecting our Island Environments
Our youth cohort members carried out cleanup events in Fuvahmulah City and Addu City, partnering with their respective city councils and civil society organisations to work towards creating greener, cleaner environments in our islands.
Baaruveri: Developing & Engaging Young People
Empowering Young People to Shape the Future
During the quarter, we held consultations with young people in Male’, Fuvahmulah City and Addu City, as part of our efforts to meaningfully engage young people, providing them with the opportunity to voice their ideas and opinions on national policies and practices that impact their lives and future.
Youth Advocacy Guide Workshop
Our Youth Reference Group (YRG) members, Zara and Hizyam facilitated a two-day training workshop on UNICEF’s Youth Advocacy Guide, with the aim of capacitating a cohort of young people to embark on their advocacy journeys for issues they care about, ranging from mental health to climate action.
Critical Thinking for Youth
Aiming to equip young people with the skills to analyse problems, question assumptions, and confidently apply their ideas in real-world situations, we conducted a session on critical thinking for members of the UNICEF Maldives youth cohort in January 2025.
Quarterly Youth Reference Group Meeting
The quarterly Youth Reference Group (YRG) meeting was held in March, providing a platform for YRG members to come together and exchange learnings & plans.
During the session, members reviewed key accomplishments from the past quarter and contributed to shaping the upcoming calendar, identifying their interest areas in various projects throughout the upcoming quarter.
Kaamiyaabu: Education & Learning
Commemorating International Day of Education 2025
To mark this year’s International Day of Education, we collaborated with the Ministry of Education to host a panel discussion – ‘Transforming Education: Building a Digitally Enabled Learning Ecosystem in the Maldives.’
With leading figures in the education and technology sectors, the session reflected on the increasingly important role of digital technology in teaching & learning and how to leverage that to create an inclusive and equitable education system in the Maldives.
First-ever Joint Education Sector Review
As part of the Education Transformation Agenda ‘THAIBA’, supported by UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the first joint education sector review in the Maldives was held this quarter, led by the Ministry of Education. The review discussed the challenges and progress in the education sector over the past years, and opportunities and way forward to create more inclusive and equitable learning environments, especially focusing on children with disabilities and complex learning profiles.
Creating Digital-based Pathways to Learning
In partnership with Google for Education, we continued to support the Government in accelerating ‘TechPath’, the national digital learning agenda. This quarter, we conducted monitoring visits to schools in Baa Eydhafushi, Vaavu Keyodhoo, Meemu Mulah and Villimale – to track progress on the use of devices provided for teaching and learning.
Additionally, UNICEF Representative Dr. Edward Addai, State Minister for Education Dr. Ahmed Mohamed and a senior team from the Ministry of Education visited schools in Baa Atoll to observe the satellite school model and explore ways to scale up technology enhanced learning to address inequities due to the geographical dispersion of children across 182 islands in the Maldives.
Rakkaatheri: Prevention & Response to Violence against Children
Enhancing Child & Family-Centred Law Enforcement
UNICEF partnered with Maldives Police Service (MPS) to bring together all Atoll and Regional Commanders for a conference on enhancing child and family-centred law enforcement, aiming to strengthen their prevention capacity and response to Crimes Against Children (CAC), Children in Conflict with the Law (CiCL), and Domestic Violence/Gender-Based Violence (DV/GBV).
The conference focused on enhancing the effectiveness of MPS units across different regions of the Maldives in investigating and handling these sensitive cases, ensuring that law enforcement efforts are trauma-informed, victim-centred, and aligned with national child protection priorities.
“The right attitude and willingness to work together with other stakeholders is the right beginning to addressing the challenges in creating a protective environment for every child.” – UNICEF Representative to the Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai
Strengthening the Justice Sector for Children
As part of our efforts to drive juvenile justice reform, we partnered with the Prosecutor General’s Office for the kick-off of the Juvenile Justice Conference, set to take place on National Children's Day in May.
The technical launch identified key research areas for the conference, which will be focused on shaping policies and interventions that directly impact children in contact with the law.
Social Policy
Leaving No Child Behind
This quarter, UNICEF collaborated with the Ministry of Finance and Planning to analyse the social protection budget, identifying gaps and opportunities to make the system more child-sensitive and inclusive.
Additionally, we contributed to policy discussions on upcoming social protection subsidy reforms, advocating for strengthened support to children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
We also engaged with national partners on strengthening the Maldives' Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system and are continuing our work with the Ministry of Social and Family Development to develop the Vulnerability Information Management System. These efforts are aimed at enhancing national capacity to identify vulnerable children and improve access to social protection services.
Programme Convergence & Equity
Launch of Kudhinnaa Gaathun in Hulhumale’ Phase II
In February 2025, we expanded our ‘Kudhinnaa Gaathun’ initiative to Hulhumale’ Phase II, bringing together partners and stakeholders to identify key issues, evaluate existing interventions and foster collaborative solutions to challenges specific to children and young people residing in the area.
Kudhinnaa Gaathun (translated to ‘Closer to Children’) initiative aims to brings UNICEF Maldives’ programmes and support closer to children and work with partners to address the challenges of safeguarding the rights of children and young people in a country where communities are scattered across 182 islands.
Integrating Health & Well-being into Education
In partnership with the Ministry of Education and UNESCO, we organised a three-day workshop to support the integration of health and well-being into the national education sector plan.
Facilitated by UNICEF Representative Dr. Edward Addai, the workshop brought together 56 participants, including school principals and representatives from relevant government organisations to assess the health and well-being status of children and young people, develop policies and analyses, and formulate important strategies.
imaGen Ventures in Fuvahmulah City
We held an imaGen Ventures bootcamp in Fuvahmulah City, empowering young people aged 16-24 years through hands-on design-thinking skills and entrepreneurial training, mentorship and funding to craft innovative solutions to tackle the climate challenges faced by their communities.
Communications & Advocacy
Ramadan 1446 with Sarah
This Ramadan, we joined Sarah and her family as they navigate the month, learning about values such as patience, generosity and compassion.
Watch the videos here.
Healthy Ramadan with Young People
To encourage children and young people to make healthier choices, we engaged with our youth advocates to create content around healthy eating and exercising habits during Ramadan.
Read their story and watch the videos here.
#GirlGoals Campaign
To celebrate this year's International Women’s Day and as part of UNICEF’s global #GirlGoals campaign, we spoke to Tia, her mother and grandmother, reflecting on how life has changed for girls and young women in Maldives over the years.
Watch the video here.
We also asked fathers to share their hopes and dreams for their daughters – here's what they had to say!
Watch the video here.
Stay informed with 'Kihineh?'
We continued to rollout our collaborative work with the Government of Maldives, led by the National Mental Health Department to combat stereotypes and stigma associated with mental health.
Follow 'Kihineh?' on X, Instagram, and Facebook and stay tuned for important tips, resources, and information on how we can all support mental well-being in our communities.
High-level Advocacy
UNICEF Maldives Representative Dr. Edward Addai met with Government representatives, ambassadors and the diplomatic community this quarter to leverage support to advocate to safeguard children’s rights.
During Ramadan, the UNICEF Representative also participated in the iftar hosted for foreign diplomats by the President and First Lady of the Maldives.
Team UNICEF
Good-bye and Hello!
This quarter, we bid farewell to Fumiaki ‘Sagi’ Sagisaga, who was on a three-month stretch assignment to the education programme from UNICEF HQ in New York. During his time with us, Sagi contributed significantly to the foundational learning aspect of our programme area; he will be dearly missed!
We had some exciting new additions to our team this quarter, including Hussain Yameen Ali who joined as our intern in the Education & Learning team and Watsala Jayamanna on a stretch assignment from UNICEF Sri Lanka to support our emergency response formulation work. Additionally, we also welcomed a new member to our Communications & Advocacy team – Iyath Adam Shareef as the Communications Associate.
Staff Capacity Building
The learning & well-being week of this quarter was led by the young people of the UNICEF Maldives Country Office, with staff-wide sessions focusing on gender & disability inclusion, trauma-informed practices, critical thinking and more.
Additionally, the UNICEF Staff Association of Maldives held its Annual General Meeting of the year, to discuss proposed activities and events planned. In line with this, staff 'maahefun' and iftar celebrations were held as well.
Looking Ahead
As we conclude the first quarterly newsletter of 2025, we reflect on a period of convergence, accelerated implementation and strengthened partnerships.
Looking ahead, we are excited to reaffirm our commitment and enhance our efforts to create a safe, healthy and sustainable future where every child can learn, grow and thrive.
Upcoming Key Dates in Q2 2025
April
- World Autism Awareness Day (2 April)
- World Health Day (7 April)
- World Immunization Week (24-30 April)
May
- National Children’s Day (10 May)
- International Mother's Day (11 May)
June
- Global Parenting Month (1-30 June)
- World Environment Day (5 June)
- World Ocean's Day (8 June)
- International Day of Play (11 June)
- International Father’s Day (15 June)