UNICEF Maldives Newsletter Quarter 1, 2024

The Journey of Progress and Promise for Children

"UNICEF has been in Maldives for the past 47 years, supporting the country to advance the rights and wellbeing of children. Our priority areas of work for 2024 include, health and nutrition, education, child protection, social policy and social protection, and climate resilience. We are happy to showcase a strong start to the year with these series of initiatives in this Newsletter.

From policy support to enhancing social services for children, to skilling young people to be leaders in their communities, and proving key information for parents and caregivers, our team has been on the ground working tirelessly with Government and partners to provide every child in Maldives with an opportunity to not just survive but to develop and thrive.

For this quarter, I would like to especially direct you to read more about our work to create spaces where children and young people feel empowered to express their ideas, hopes and concerns. Whether it’s mental health and wellbeing or the impacts of the climate crisis on the future of their homes, UNICEF is here to listen, engage and support their participation at all levels, so that we can create a future where our policies and programmes are shaped in a way that they resonate with children and young people and help them reach their full potential.

UNICEF can’t fulfill our mission alone, and therefore I express my sincere appreciation to the many ‘Friends of UNICEF’, our partners and supporters who are with us every step of the way. Let’s continue to stand together for every child!"

UNICEF Representative to the Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai

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Advocating to Achieve Better Results for Children in Maldives

With the transition of Government in Maldives in November 2023, the UNICEF Maldives management and team actively engaged with newly appointed ministers and high-level Government stakeholders. These meetings and discussions served as key platforms to advocate to advance the rights of children and young people and highlighted the imperative of placing children at the heart of the national agenda.

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Kudhinnaa Gaathun in R. Meedhoo

As part of our Kudhinnaa Gaathun initiative, aiming to integrate social services for children at the island level and to bring our flagship programmes closer to children, we undertook a visit to R. Meedhoo in January and engaged with the Island Council, Women’s Development Committee, health center, school, children, young people and their families to better understand the specific issues faced by children and young people on the island.

Notably, we brought together parents and caregivers to provide them with key information on positive parenting practices, established ‘Climate Guardians’ a group of young people who UNICEF will be skilling and supporting to take climate action at the island level, and carried out well-being hangouts for young people to provide them with a safe space to express their ideas and concerns focusing on the areas of nutrition and mental health.

Our mission focused on fostering partnerships and laying the groundwork for future interventions by identifying the need for each of UNICEF’s flagship programmes through which we hope to work with the island leadership and community to make R. Meedhoo more child-friendly, safe and climate-resilient.

Beleniveriyaa

As part of our Positive Parenting flagship "Beleniveriyaa," we've undertaken consultations with parents to develop comprehensive parenting packages aimed at fostering nurturing and supportive environments for children and young people. These packages are set to be rolled out in the second quarter of this year with facilitators trainings in 4 locations. Additionally, we've developed videos aiming to promote positive parenting, develop parenting skills and healthy habits. Through these efforts, our aim is to empower parents by equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to foster a nurturing environment for every child.

Transforming Education

UNICEF Maldives' mission to transforming education received a major boost after the office was selected as the Grant Agent for two Global Partnership for Education Grants - the System Transformation and System Capacity grants, – totaling USD 6.5M. These grants are for implementing innovative strategies for improving inclusive education, specifically on children with disabilities and those out of school.

Additionally, in efforts to find innovative digital solutions to teaching and learning, Google, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and UNICEF held a co-creation workshop in Maldives bringing together education sector partners to explore how a strategic partnership could drive digital transformation and address educational needs effectively in a geographically dispersed country such as Maldives.

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Child Safe Tourism Training

In our efforts to prevent violence against children and exploitation of children in the travel and tourism industry, we collaborate with the Maldives Police Service to conduct child safeguarding trainings for resorts, guesthouses, live-aboard vessels, and other similar establishments in the country. This quarter, we carried out trainings in K. Maafushi targeting the guesthouses on the island. Additionally, we conducted a training of facilitators, involving different departments of the Maldives Police Service, including some from the atoll, to expand this program to more areas across the country.

This initiative seeks to empower those working in the sector to safeguard children from any form of harm or exploitation. By integrating these child protection measures into tourism practices and law enforcement procedures, we are committed to creating environments where every child is protected and safe.

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Mental Health Act Stakeholder Consultation

UNICEF Maldives and WHO Maldives supported the Government of Maldives through the Ministry of Health to conduct stakeholder consultations on the draft Mental Health Bill. These consultations helped bring together partners from relevant sectors to identify gaps and contribute to strengthening this piece of legislation, which will help create a happier, healthier future for all!

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Juvenile Justice Symposium

UNICEF, in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Justice, convened partners for a Juvenile Justice Symposium aimed at addressing the critical need for reform in the juvenile justice system and how we can work together to effectively implement the Juvenile Justice Act, 2019.

"There is a critical need for a Juvenile Justice System that breaks this vicious cycle & converts it into a virtuous cycle that rehabilitates children in conflict with the law- reintegrates them into communities & empowers them to become responsible members of society" - UNICEF Representative to the Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai

UNICEF's efforts in this area focus on enhancing the juvenile justice system through various means, including diversion programs, community engagement initiatives, legislative support, early intervention strategies, and education programs. By working together with stakeholders, we aim to create a more supportive and inclusive environment that enables children to fulfill their potential and contribute positively to society.

Kudhinnaa Gaathun Visit to Fuvahmulah City

Highlights from our second Kudhinnaa Gaathun visit to Fuvahmulah City with the UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Ms. Noala Skinner during her mission to Maldives in February include working sessions with the City Council to see how we can integrate our flagship programmes in the island work plans, and incorporate a child-rights lens into upcoming initiatives and events with the community.

Additionally, we provided parents and caregivers with important information on feeding their children healthy food and encouraging them to practice active lifestyles. We also had an engagement with the ‘Climate Guardians’, to connect them to the Mayor of Fuvahmulah and discuss their ideas to make their home island more safe and resilient.

Wellbeing hangout

As part of our flagship on Mental Health and Preventing Substance Abuse, we held our 4th 'Wellbeing Hangout' in February. These sessions serve as a safe and open platform for young people to come together to discuss mental health, debunk misconceptions, and normalize having open conversations and asking for help. One of the goals of this flagship programme is to empower adolescents and young people with information and skills in self-care and coping strategies, including building the capacity of parents and caregivers to provide supportive environments for young people.

Safer Internet Partnership with Dhiraagu

With advancements in technology, children and young people are spending more time online than ever before, and they are getting there sooner. Growing up online provides limitless opportunities. When used in the right way, computers, smartphones and other gadgets can help children learn, imagine and develop their social networks. However, without proper supervision, these could pose serious risks to their safety.

Recognizing this concern, UNICEF Maldives and Dhiraagu are exploring a partnership together to increase awareness and empower children and young people with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate online platforms securely and responsibly, while also providing parents and caregivers with essential information and resources to help ensure their children's safety in the digital world.

Building Caring Island Communities

As part of our efforts to improve collaboration within the different actors on every island that are mandated to protect children, UNICEF conducted a Child Safeguarding Training and an IBAMA orientation for all Regional and Atoll Commanders of Maldives Police Service in March. Through these efforts, we hope to strengthen the capacity of police officers to adapt child-friendly approaches to policing, especially encouraging all police stations to use child-centric investigation techniques when attending to cases involving children to ensure that the child is protected from any further harm.

World Cancer Day Run

UNICEF joined the Ministry of Health, Health Protection Agency and partners for the World Cancer Day Run, aiming to raise awareness on healthy lifestyles and in solidarity with those affected.

"Let us do our part and encourage others to eat healthy food, engage in physical activity, and avoid tobacco to reduce the risk of cancer. Prioritize regular screening and health checkups. Early detection can save lives" - UNICEF Representative to the Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai

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Capacity Building Workshop with and for Young People

With support of the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia, the Country Office organized a 5-day workshop in March to empower young leaders and promote civic engagement. The program equipped them with essential skills to advocate for children and young people's rights and contribute to positive change in the society. Through interactive sessions and activities, the workshop highlighted the importance of amplifying the voices of Maldivian youth and fostering inclusive spaces for their participation. This initiative reflects our commitment to youth development and engagement in driving transformative change in the Maldives.

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Supporting Young People to drive Climate Action

The two UNICEF-supported young delegates, Raaia, 19, and Zara, 22, shared their journey and insights from COP28 with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Environment and Energy, along with the Special Envoy for Climate Change, H.E. Ali Shareef, and UNICEF's Climate Guardians in a virtual call. UNICEF aims to continue creating spaces and providing tools for young people to connect with decision-makers and drive meaningful change in the fight against climate change.

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Strengthening Immunization Efforts

UNICEF Maldives hosted a pivotal mission from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), aimed at strengthening the country's immunization services. Led by Caitlin Longden, Senior Country Manager of GAVI's Middle Income Country Team, the mission centered on workshops and discussions with health sector stakeholders, including the national immunization program. The mission also provided an opportunity to express gratitude for the invaluable support received from GAVI through the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Support (CDS) to Maldives, highlighting the significance of partnerships to advance global immunization efforts.

Vaccine Communication

On January 11, 2024, Healthcare Workers and School Health Officers convened for a workshop aimed at enhancing vaccine confidence through Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC). With 32 participants from health facilities and schools in the greater Male’ Area, the focus was on dispelling vaccine myths and misconceptions, particularly prevalent on social media, while emphasizing the importance of effective interpersonal communication to ensure timely vaccination of children. This workshop equipped participants with essential tools to combat vaccine hesitancy and promote immunization, thus safeguarding public health in the region.

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Communications and Advocacy

In line with the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025 and the UNICEF Maldives Country Office Work Plan 2024 – 2025, communications and advocacy play a key role in our work to accelerate programme priorities by amplifying our work to increase awareness and influence decision-makers, partners and communities to take positive action to advance the rights and opportunities for children and young. Highlights of Quarter 1 2024:

Digital