The Journey of Promise and Progress for Children and Young People
As we present the 7th edition of UNICEF Maldives’ quarterly newsletter, I am filled with hope and admiration for the young people of Maldives – those who are not just aspiring to change the world but are already doing so.
The highlight of this quarter was the remarkable potential of young people when they are given the opportunity to lead, innovate, and shape the world around them.
During our Digital Solutions Hackathon 2.0 to mark World Youth Skills Day, we saw the innovative thinking and desire of young people to help their communities. From promoting mental health to enhancing disability inclusion, young people came up with practical solutions that could lead to real change in their communities. Additionally, on International Youth Day, the youth-led photo exhibition ‘Ummeedhu’ showcased young people's hopes and dreams for their future.
This year's Youth Track to COP30 saw young people from across Maldives come together to raise their voices to call on national and global leaders to accelerate action in addressing the climate crisis – reflecting the growing recognition that meaningful progress on issues like climate change can only be achieved when young people are included, empowered, and given a space at the table.
Through all these initiatives, one emerging message is clear: young people are ready. The question is, are we ready to truly support them?
We at UNICEF believe that youth engagement must go beyond symbolic gestures; it must be intentional, inclusive, and sustained. This means investing in young people’s skills, creating spaces where their ideas shape decisions, and collaborating with them as equal partners. The solutions to the most pressing challenges we face will be stronger, more relevant, and more fit for a sustainable future when they are co-created with youth.
As we welcome the last quarter of 2025, I extend my sincere gratitude to all our partners and supporters for your continuous engagement and support. I also invite you to continue walking this road with us to build a culture of meaningful child and youth engagement in Maldives.
Let us ensure that every child and young person – regardless of where they live or what challenges they face – has the opportunity to thrive.
Dr. Edward Addai, UNICEF Representative to Maldives
Youth as Changemakers
Youth Track to COP30 + Innovation Exhibition
The fifth edition of the ‘Youth Track to COP30’ event – organised with the President’s Office and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment – put young people at the heart of climate action by connecting them with experts, mentors, and peers to build skills for advocacy and engagement in national and global climate discussions.
Participants learnt climate negotiation tactics and how global climate policies are made through a stimulation of COP. They also co-created their recommendations ahead of COP30, calling on world leaders and national policymakers to prioritise the future of children and young people, and actively involve youth in shaping climate policy and action.
A new highlight this year showcased climate solutions designed by young people through the imaGen Ventures workshops, showcasing the skills and creativity of young people in addressing climate issues faced by their communities.
Digital Solutions Hackathon 2.0
In line with this year’s World Youth Skills Day, young innovators across Maldives came together for the Digital Solutions Hackathon 2.0, held in partnership with Women in Tech Maldives, Villa College and Dhiraagu.
Participants engaged in a two-day design thinking workshop, followed by a 12-hour hackathon to come up with innovative solutions to address challenges in areas including education and skills, mental health and disability inclusion.
“Ummeedhu” Photo Exhibition
To mark International Youth Day, UNICEF Maldives – in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts – organised ‘Ummeedhu’; a youth-led photo exhibition.
With over 150 submissions, the exhibition showcased the hopes and dreams of young people across the Maldives as they face the uncertainties of a rapidly changing world and their dreams of a brighter, more resilient future.
“To truly help young people thrive, we need more partners and allies to invest in their skills and leadership. When we invest in young people, we are collectively building a stronger, more resilient Maldives.” – UNICEF Representative to Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai
#SayNoToTobacco Youth-led Campaign
In line with the national generational ban on tobacco enacted by the Government on 3 June 2025, UNICEF Maldives launched a new campaign, bringing together young people to shift attitudes on tobacco use through social media outreach and youth-driven advocacy.
As part of the campaign, UNICEF released the 'Tobacco Use among Young People in Maldives' survey report on the knowledge, attitude, behaviour & exposure to tobacco products of young people. The report also underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement of existing laws, greater investment in prevention and awareness, and youth-led advocacy to ensure a healthier, tobacco-free generation.
Additionally, a Speaking Easy in collaboration with Sosal, was also held to gain insights from young people about their perception of the harmful effects of tobacco and discuss the findings of the report.
Climate Guardians
This quarter, UNICEF Maldives’ Climate Guardians were active on the ground, organising clean-ups and waste audits with partners to map pollution and inform better waste management practices. These efforts underscore children and young people’s role in safeguarding their environment and ensuring resilient, healthy islands for all.
Baaruveri: Developing & Engaging Young People
Building Youth Skills for Tomorrow
We continued our career guidance initiative, with workshops and a career fair held in Kulhudhuffushi City. Organised in partnership with Kulhudhuffushi City Council and the National Career Services, the workshops aimed to equip young people with necessary skills and knowledge to begin their professional careers.
Youth Advocacy Guide Workshop
Members of our youth cohort in Kulhudhuffushi City led a two-day training workshop on UNICEF’s Youth Advocacy Guide, in partnership with Kulhudhuffushi City Council, equipping a new cohort of young people with the skills and knowledge to kickstart their advocacy journeys on issues in their communities that impact their lives and future.
Beleniveriyaa: Positive Parenting
Beleniveriyaa Parenting Sessions & Facilitator Trainings
From January to September 2025, trained facilitators across the country have conducted more than 30 parenting sessions under the national parenting programme, Beleniveriyaa, reaching over 3,576 mothers and 522 fathers.
Within this quarter, we held three additional facilitator trainings in Male’ City and Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo to expand implementation of the programme. A total of 306 facilitators have been trained in Male’ and across 9 atolls and 54 islands to date including teachers, school counselors, PTA members, social workers, public health workers, council and WDC members, police officers, civil society members as well as staff of the Department of Juvenile Justice, National Drug Agency and Family Protection Authority.
Digital Tools for Positive Parenting
As part of our ongoing efforts to provide meaningful support to more parents, we have developed and compiled a series of digital content on positive parenting. By making these resources available digitally, we aim to ensure that parents, no matter where they live, have easy access to guidance and tools that can support them in their parenting journey.
Rakkaatheri: Prevention & Response to Violence against Children
Launching of ‘Udhuhilan’ Campaign – For a Happy, Safe Community
Together with the Family Protection Authority (FPA), we launched ‘Udhuhilan’, a nationwide campaign to prevent all forms of violence against children at home and in communities.
The campaign was launched at a joint collective impact platform, ‘Mashvaraa’ which brought together key stakeholders to learn from best practices, identify opportunities and craft collective solutions to address gaps in protecting children from harm, especially focusing on domestic violence.
“When children and young people are seen as changemakers, not just as beneficiaries of protection, we become partners in building safer homes, stronger communities, and a more compassionate nation.” – Maashy Mohamed Bilal, 17, member of UNICEF Maldives’ youth co-hort at the ‘Udhuhilan’ launch event.
For Every Child, a Second Chance
The closing session of the National Juvenile Justice Conference 2025 – led by the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) in partnership with UNICEF – took place this quarter.
During the event, PGO presented the policy recommendations paper from the conference, which emphasized the need for stronger efforts to implement the prevention, diversion, rehabilitation, and reintegration mechanisms for children in conflict with the law as granted by the Juvenile Justice Act (18/2019), while also calling for enhanced collaboration between stakeholders in the justice sector, social services, and civil society.
Safeguarding Child Rights and Strengthening Protection Systems
During this quarter, we conducted the validation for the legislative review of the child rights framework in Maldives, aiming to ensure that legal protections evolve with the changing contexts children face.
Additionally, we also started working on a Child Protection System Performance Index with relevant partners to understand how well the child protection system is functioning across Maldives. These findings will guide UNICEF and partners in addressing gaps, strengthening capacities, and ensuring accountability in protecting children from harm.
Child-Safe Tourism
Under the ‘Rakkaatheri’ flagship, we continued our child safeguarding trainings for tourism sector staff this quarter as well. Sessions were conducted for staff of Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, aiming to equip resort management and employees with the skills and knowledge needed to ensure a safe environment for children and protect them from all forms of violence and exploitation.
Kaamiyaabu: Education & Learning
Supporting Digital Pathways to Learning
As part of the support by UNICEF and Google for Education to expand national digital learning agenda, we convened the 15 ‘TechPath’ schools to discuss and identify steps to scale up the initiative in 2026. We additionally conducted monitoring visits to implementing schools in Baa Thulhaadhoo, Thaa Vilifushi and Gaafu Alifu Kondey to monitor progress and provide supportive supervision.
Additionally, we had the Digital Maturity Assessment workshop – a key activity of the inception phase of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)’s Technology for Education - Technical Assistance Initiative (TAI) in the Maldives. This inaugural workshop brought together key government and civil society stakeholders to assess the Maldivian education system’s digital maturity to develop a detailed, government-led workplan, identify priority areas for technical assistance, and increase the Ministry of Education’s capacity to leverage technology for improved learning outcomes.
Inclusive Education for Every Child
UNICEF supported the Government in the official launch of the National Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher Training Programme. The programme aims to build capacity among teachers to support children with diverse learning needs, marking a step forward to ensuring inclusive education for every child.
Climate Resilient Actions
Speaking Easy: Climate Edition Podcast
We launched the first episodes of the Speaking Easy: Climate Edition podcast – a podcast series hosted by children. The series brings in technical experts in the sector as well as young people leading climate action to explore and discuss the challenges and the opportunities in tackling the climate crisis, sharing personal stories, local perspectives, and calls to action.
WASH National Policy and Action Plan Validation Workshop
UNICEF Maldives supported the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to convene stakeholders to validate the draft of the Maldives’ new national Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Policy and Action Plan, which aims to ensure that WASH services are equitable, climate resilient, and child-centred across every island.
Kihineh?: Health & Wellbeing
“Every child deserves more than survival. They deserve a chance to thrive.” – UNICEF Representative to Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai
Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People
During this quarter, UNICEF Maldives formalised a partnership agreement with the Australian High Commission in Maldives to advance health and wellbeing for children across Maldives.
To mark the occasion, a Wellbeing Festival was held with partners in Hulhumale’ Phase II aiming to promote physical and emotional wellbeing and encourage early screening and healthy, nutritious lifestyles.
Enhancing Mental Health Response: From Frontline Training to Community Support
As part of our wellbeing initiatives, UNICEF, in partnership with the National Mental Health Department of the Ministry of Health and the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), supported a series of trainings to strengthen capacity of frontline workers in responding to mental health needs.
This included the Mental Health First Responders Training which equipped police officers with the skills to recognize signs of distress, provide initial support, and guide individuals to professional care. Moreover, school counsellors were trained during this quarter to strengthen their skills in identifying and responding to mental health issues in school settings. We also conducted Psychological First Aid training in partnership with Fuvamulah City Council and Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) for frontline workers from relevant sectors working in Fuvamulah City.
A group of young people and community members were also trained in the ‘Ekugai Buddy Walk’ programme by NCMH, which equipped volunteers with the skills to act as ‘buddies’ for individuals on their mental health journeys by practicing active listening, empathy, and providing a safe space for support.
Sustaining the Gains in Immunization
In partnership with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), WHO Maldives and Gavi, we conducted an effective vaccine management (EVM) assessment assessor’s training, aiming to strengthen the vaccine supply chain system, data systems, and quality control – to ensure that every child receives timely and safe vaccines. Following the training, we supported HPA to embark on an ambitious data collection exercise of conducting EVM assessments across the country, completing 62 islands across 20 atolls.
Promoting Active Lifestyles for Children
As part of our efforts to encourage healthy habits that promote physical and mental wellbeing, we partnered with iRunners MV for the Maldives Half Marathon 2025 which saw participation of over 200 children.
Our team is also working with the Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation to validate and rollout a manual to prevent NCDs and leverage sports and physical activity to promote good health and wellbeing across the islands.
World Breastfeeding Week 2025
To mark this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, we partnered with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to conduct a series of events. This included the training of 183 healthcare professionals in breastfeeding counselling and regulation of breast milk substitutes. Two virtual sessions - in collaboration with 'Beleniveriyaa' - was also held for 134 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers on breastfeeding related practical challenges and suggestions by technical experts.
Social Policy
Mashvaraa – Collective Impact Platform on Disability Inclusion
This quarter, UNICEF Maldives launched the first collective impact platform on inclusion of children with disabilities, with a special focus on autism. Organised in partnership with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and The Treehouse International, the platform brought together partners to advocate for stronger policies and develop multi-sectoral solutions to build a more inclusive society where every child can thrive.
Evaluation of IBAMA Flagship
UNICEF Maldives completed and published a formative evaluation of the IBAMA programme in Maldives. The evaluation provides a comprehensive assessment of the initiatives’ effectiveness in supporting vulnerable children and families. It also details strengths in early identification, referral systems, and awareness efforts, whereas operational challenges and areas for improvement were also highlighted.
Looking ahead, the evaluation provided actionable insights into how IBAMA can be scaled and sustained across islands, reinforcing its role in enhancing access to social services.
Leave No Child Behind
UNICEF Maldives continues to play a key role in the steering committee of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening national civil registry and vital statistics data systems.
During the third session of the committee, the inaugural quarterly Vital Statistics Bulletin was launched and published, providing timely data on births and deaths that will support policymaking and contribute to leaving no child behind.
Communications & Advocacy
Social Media Engagement
This quarter, our social media platforms featured inclusive stories of children with disabilities and their families - click to watch Aaz and Sarah’s stories. Additionally, we co-created content with young people on prevention of tobacco-use and prevention of violence against children.
Over the past three months, we reached over 150,000 people with key messages across different platforms.
Stay informed with 'Kihineh?'
We continued to rollout our collaborative work with the Government of Maldives, led by the National Mental Health Department to address and reduce stereotypes and stigma surrounding mental health.
Follow 'Kihineh?' on Instagram, Facebook and X for important tips, resources, and information on how to promote and support mental well-being in our communities.
High-level Advocacy & Engagements
UNICEF Representative to Maldives Dr. Edward Addai met with the Child Rights Council of Maldives to explore areas of collaboration on advancing the child rights agenda in Maldives. We also had our introductory meeting with the newly appointed Director General for Mental Health, Ms. Fathimath Leena to explore opportunities to expand and strengthen mental health services for children and adolescents.
This quarter, we also welcomed new members to the UN Maldives Country Team including the new Chief of Mission for IOM Sri Lanka and Maldives, Ms. Kristin Parco and the new UNDP Resident Representative to Maldives, Mr. Adnan Cheema. Discussions focused on mutual areas of collaboration to advance the child rights agenda in Maldives.
Team UNICEF
Future Focus Initiative and Strategic Moment of Reflection
In response to the evolving global context and reduction in development assistance funds, similar to all UNICEF offices, the Maldives Country Office has also been undertaking a comprehensive process to review the work we are currently doing, and identify strategic priorities for the next Country Programme Document (2027 to 2031) that are more focused, scalable and impactful in accelerating results for children and young people.
As part of this process, this quarter, UNICEF Maldives finalized the 2025 Situation Analysis of Children and Young People in Maldives (SitAn), a critical tool that provides an evidence-based understanding of the current context, challenges and evolving issues for children and young people, to support the future-focus process.
Our team was also joined by UNICEF’s Regional Director for South Asia, Mr. Sanjay Wijesekera as we undertook our Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR) in September. The SMR was a key organizational initiative that created the space for UNICEF, together with our partners, to reflect on how best to sustain the significant progress the country has made in child rights and address emerging challenges so that we can build a future where every child can reach their full potential.
Good-bye and Hello!
This quarter, we bid farewell to our Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Officer, Fathmath Afa Adnan. During her two years with us, Afa oversaw the Beleniveriyaa – Joint Positive Parenting Programme, contributing significantly to the programme’s reach and progress. We wish her all the best!
A warm welcome to our new interns – Mohamed Youshau Shafeeu and Aminath Lana Amin – who joined the Youth Engagement and Child Protection teams respectively.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead to the final quarter of the year, we remain committed to working with partners to deliver meaningful results for children and young people across Maldives.
By working hand in hand with young people, communities and partners – our Friends of UNICEF – we aim to create a sustainable future where every child is protected, included, and empowered to thrive.
Upcoming Key Dates & Events in Q4 2025
October
- Collective Impact Platform – Mashvaraa on Accelerating Programming for Adolescent Girls
- World Teachers’ Day (5 October)
- World Mental Health Day (10 October)
- International Day of the Girl Child (11 October)
- International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction - Viluntheri Festival (17 October)
November
- Collective Impact Platform – Mashvaraa on Violence Against Children
- World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse (19 November)
- World Children’s Day (20 November)
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (25 November – 10 December)
December
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December)
- Human Rights Day (10 December)
For more information about UNICEF’s work in Maldives, visit