Dhiraagu and Maldives Fishermen’s Association has announced the successful conclusion of the Young Fisher’s Club. A total of 35 students from Ihavandhoo School – including 25 girls and 10 boys – successfully graduated from the programme, earning their badges at a special ceremony held at the school.

The Young Fisher’s Club was a partnership initiative between Dhiraagu and Maldives Fishermen’s Association to introduce and provide basic knowledge and understanding of fishing, marine environment, and sustainability practices to students. Moreover, students were also taught life skills such as swimming, snorkelling, leadership, time management and teamwork through a structured programme with hands-on practical sessions under the guidance of skilled experts.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary General of the Maldives Fishermen’s Association, Abdulla Shakir Mohamed congratulated the students on the successful completion of the programme. He mentioned that this marks an important milestone in the association’s tireless efforts to create interest amongst youth in the fisheries industry and the marine environment. He further stated his hope that the students who graduated from this programme would be future leaders in expanding this club’s activities in Ihavandhoo School and other schools in the Maldives.

“The Young Fisher’s Club was a golden opportunity for the school which taught our students about the environment, fisheries management, and meteorology. It sparked their interest in conserving the environment, including coral gardening, reef protection and how to sustainably use our resources. This knowledge made it easier to implement the existing curriculum and bring an exciting twist to the lessons,” stated Ahmed Rasheed, Principal of HA. Ihavandhoo School.

“We are proud to highlight that out of the 35 graduates of the programme, 25 students are girls, demonstrating gender diversity in this key initiative. This not only highlights the inclusivity of the programme but also reflects a positive stride towards equal participation and representation of both genders in this important industry,” stated Abdullah Sadiq, Manager of Kulhudhuffushi Operations Centre at Dhiraagu. Students who participated in the Young Fisher’s Club expressed how the programme taught them valuable skills related to biodiversity, fisheries management, and weather along with soft skills such as teamwork and leadership.

The programme concluded with participants gaining valuable insights into specific areas related to the Maldives fishing industry such as the industry’s history, marine environment, weather, climate change, disaster management, biodiversity, safety at sea and first aid, fisheries management, post-harvest technology, navigation, and communication skills.

Empowering young people and caring for the environment are key areas of Dhiraagu’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Dhiraagu remains committed to supporting initiatives which focus on caring for the oceans and empowering youth to enable them to ‘take on tomorrow.