Save The Beach Maldives will be hosting its annual event at Villimale’ on the 18th of November 2017. This year, the event has been named ‘Moodhu Majaa’ and in addition to environment and awareness initiatives, it will also feature many educational and enjoyable activities to celebrate the occasion of the NGO’s 10th Anniversary.
Moodhu Majaa is co-sponsored by Dhiraagu, Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO) and State Trading Organization (STO). The activities of the event are conducted with the support of event partners from PADI, SSI, Print Lab, MARES, Coca Cola, Liquid Watersports, Dive Desk, Mare Scuba Concept, Divers Lodge, Moodhu Bulhaa, Moodhu Goyye, Scuba Centre Maldives, Secret Paradise, Mac Rooster, Green Fins, Saafu Rajje, Parley, Villa College’s Faculty of Marine Studies, MNDF, Maldives Police Service, Damage Control, Maldives Red Crescent, MTCC, Project Aware, IUCN’s Project Regenerate. The event is also endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and Energy as well as by the United Nations Development Program and is recognized under UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The event will commence at 10 a.m., following Save The Beach tradition, with a clean-up of Villimale’ and its surrounding coastal areas that culminates in a waste audit that will be conducted by volunteers, co-sponsors, partners, environmental organizations, the local island community as well as participants from the general public.
Once the clean-up begins, the rest of the ‘Moodhu Majaa’ activities will also be in session until the event concludes at 5 pm. These activities include training such as Dive Against Debris (participants will receive a PADI PIC) and Try Diving (participants will be recognized under SSI), Fish ID Training (an information session about habits and habitats of our local reef inhabitants) and guided snorkelling (for all ages). All of these training and tryouts are provided free to the public in association with partners from the dive community.
Moodhu Majaa will also feature environmental awareness and conservation stalls, a sand sculpture competition, conservation tours, nature walks, a photo booth area and musical performances as well as food and refreshment corners. In addition, short informative ‘eco-talks’ will also be delivered by prominent environmental leaders of our community, providing vital education to the participants of the event.
Founded as a non-profit organization in 2007 by Hassan (Beybe) Ahmed to initiate a movement geared towards the removal of waste and preserving the natural state of the beaches, today Save The Beach stands as one of the longest-established environmental initiatives in the Maldives. Backed by the support of local communities and dedicated volunteers, STB broadened its reach in 2014 by becoming Save The Beach Maldives. STB has since completed several conservation projects and conducted various awareness activities. The overall vision of Save The Beach has always been centred on increasing and maintaining awareness amongst all people and pledges to continue to take action towards the conservation and beautification of our unique archipelago.
