VAAVOSHI FESTIVAL 2024: UNITING COMMUNITIES IN CONSERVATION
Back in November, we co-hosted the 2024 Vaavoshi Festival with Olive Ridley Project and Kendhikulhudhoo Council. Held at Kendhikulhudhoo, Noonu Atoll, also known as ‘the mangrove island’, the festival reached over 1000 students and 1000 members of Noonu community.
The event brought together passionate conservationists, NGOs, students and community members eager to make a difference. It was a platform to showcase innovative work, discover new opportunities, and explore solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing Maldives islands. Most importantly, it was a celebration of the beauty of our marine world and a chance to unite and inspire one another to protect it for future generations.
We asked Rumey and Azfa to share their highlights of the three day event.
On Thursday morning of the 21st November, together with Shaffaf and Ashu, we began our four-hour speedboat journey to Kendhikulhudhoo, Noonu Atoll, a new island destination for all of us! We were warmly welcomed by the island council members who had arranged transportation to a local home where we were to stay for the duration of the festival. Our first stop was Kendhikulhudhoo School, where presentations for 200 students were being underway. These informative and educational sessions conducted by Olive Ridley Project, Atoll Marine Center and the National University of the Maldives, highlighted various aspects of conservation work , as well as the importance of the environment and our ecosystems. The sessions ended with the students leaving their handprints on a wall serving as a lasting memory of the day and a pledge to protect turtles.
Following lunch we gathered on the beach for a sand crafting competition. 50 students formed smaller group of 5 students per group and wowed us with their creative handiwork, showing off sculptures of whale sharks, turtles and manta rays, while sharing interesting facts with us about each of their marine animals. As the sculpting competition came to an end, with the promise of the winners to be announced at the end of the festivities, several students jumped into the ocean for a fun swim before the sunset.
On Friday morning, we joined the Olive Ridley team, Kendhikulhudhoo Council, Dhiraagu team and community members for a mangrove clean up event. Teams were assigned and sent to different locations of this 3 metre long island, to approach the cleanup in a way that allowed all accessible mangrove areas of the island to be covered during the event. Our group, along with members of the Olive Ridley project and local community, were allocated the northernmost point of the island where several of us concluded the cleanup by taking a dip in the mangrove!
After lunch we participated in a snorkeling clean up, which collected more than 5,000 kilograms of trash. It was truly inspiring to see how diligently the villagers separated the collected waste. The day concluded with an evening of entertainment featuring cultural dance and performances from the talented local community.
Saturday’s event began once again at Kendhikulhudhoo School where despite the challenging weather conditions, students from Henbadhu, Magudhu, Kudafari, Lhohi and Meyna schools had travelled to participate. The opening ceremony was attended by Mohammad Rauf, Chairman of the Kendhikulhudhoo Council, Dr Riaz Jouhari, Dean of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, National University of Maldives and the Chief Guest and Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Energy, Mohamed Nashath Rasheedh.
The event featured stalls from Reefscapers, Olive Ridley Project, Atoll Marine Conservation Centre, Maldives Underwater Project, Kendhikulhudhoo School, Kudafari Community Team, Manta Trust and Maldives National University. At the same time, there was a fierce debate competition held in the school hall, challenging several topics about marine life conservation, which Lhohi School won. Both the debate competition and the interaction at the stalls showed much enthusiasm from school students on learning more about turtles, marine-life and the importance of protecting their habitats.
The weekend concluded with the Vaavoshi parade which celebrated and called for the protection of sea turtles and marine life. Kendhikulhudhoo Council President, Mohamed Rauf called for the end of illegal take and consumption of turtle meat and eggs, and the students came out dressed in their creative designs and sharing pledges for marine conservation. Highlights of the parade included an impressive turtle parade float organized by community members, a traditional Koadi kendun ceremony performed by Kendhikulhudhoo Women’s Development Committee, along with a surprise performance of Boduberu by the Kudafari community, who also also presented a farivalhu – a traditional meal that is gifted to show respect and camaraderie.
Events like the Vaavoshi Festival remind us that as locals there are many ways we can protect our oceans and our homes. These events also serve as a valuable platform to educate future generations about the importance of sea turtles and their habitat. The Olive Ridley Project team engaged students and local people in fun, interactive sessions, encouraging even those with limited prior knowledge to learn more about marine conservation. For Secret Paradise, each year brings new insights on sea turtles and how we can support Olive Ridley Project’s important work.
It is always encouraging and inspiring to see how events such as the Vaavoshi Festival promote community awareness and participation, fostering lasting connections between people and nature. They inspire collective action for marine conservation while cultivating a deeper sense of responsibility and pride in our shared environment. By taking part in such initiatives, we are not only safeguarding our precious marine ecosystems but also strengthening the bonds that unite us in protecting the natural world for generations to come.
Do you have an interest in turtles? Join us and Olive Ridley Project on our Turtle Conservation Snorkeling Cruise and participate in snorkeling data collection trips to gather valuable information on sea turtle abundance and distribution.
