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Youth
Overvie
The youth, regarded as people of the age group 18-35 years of age, constitute 28.66% of the total population and hence plays an important role in the present and future potential of the Nation, at a time when Maldives is experiencing rapid development. Thus, the government invests a large amount of effort and time in developing and maintaining the well being of young men and women, while assisting them to realize their potential and become a productive asset to the Nation.
18 – 19 yrs |
12,207 |
06,149 females |
06,058 males |
20 – 24 yrs |
23,514 |
11, 894 females |
11,620 males |
25 – 29 yrs |
20,090 |
10,285 females |
09,805 males |
30 – 34 yrs |
21,599 |
10,965 females |
10,634 males |
Total (18-35 yrs) |
77,410 |
39,293 females |
38,117 males |
Source: Ministry of Planning and National Development, Census 2000
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NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY
The National Youth Policy, adopted in August 2002, provides the government with the opportunity to promote the goals and principles included in the policy amongst the youth. It provides means through which different sectors of the society along with young people can work together to achieve common goals. The policy focuses special attention on the youth due to the indisputable concentration of their population and the drastic changes and difficulties they experience.
The policy recognizes certain key factors affecting the youth and promotes the development of a number of personal, cultural, and community values.
While recognizing the broader needs and requirements, the policy identifies key strategic areas, which deserve special attention for the promotion and well being of the youth. The areas include:
• Education and training
• Housing
• Employment pathways
• Sports, leisure and recreational opportunities
• Youth participation in society
• Healthy lifestyles
• Unlawful and criminal behavior
• Sustainable development and the environment
• Development of youth affairs.
Although no sections of the society is wholly ignored, the policy identifies key target groups amongst the youth as needing special attention and its efforts are mainly concentrated on these groups, which include:
• Island based young women and men
• Young people not participating in the labor market
• Young people without opportunities
Since the youth policy seeks to promote a multi-sectored approach to youth affairs, it is devised in such a way that all parties concerned with the youth of the country work together for the common good, avoiding duplication and maximizing the resources. It ensures that the youth services and programmes are well coordinated and responsive to the needs of the people. Hence, every 3 years, a National Youth Action Plan is formulated to provide a proactive, practical statement on the implementation of the policy
The policy is subject to periodic monitoring, review and assessment to keep it up to date with the requirements of the youth. The policy is reviewed every 3 years alongside the process of revising the National Development Plan.
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ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
The Ministry of Youth and Sports was established on the 6th of November 1996 and has been actively involved in governing and conducting youth related activities and functions throughout the nation. The main functions of the Ministry include the formation and revision of the National Youth Policy and its implementation, monitoring and evaluation, maintenance of the youth activities, and development of international relations among foreign youth associations.
The National Youth Council consists of members from various government and private sectors, hence building a consolatory link between public expectations and needs and the service provided by the government. The council mainly functions as an advising body to the Ministry in its handling of the Youth and their related activities.
The National Association of Youth NGOs, currently about 250 members strong, was registered on 29 August 2001 and is run by democratically elected members from the different zones of the country, and members elected by the Ministry. The aim of the association is to broaden the scope and activities of clubs/associations in the youth sector. Its main function is to provide financial assistance and training in the management of the organizations. Every year, 60% of the budget required by the members of the association is provided, for certain approved activities, which are in concurrence with the needs of the youth, and which will provide sustainable development to the community. In times of disaster, such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami on 6th Dec 2004, the NGOs were critical in providing aid and clean-up teams to the affected islands.
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YOUTH FACILITIES
Importance is given to the uniform distribution of youth related facilities and resources throughout the nation. However, since the population density is greatest in Male’, most of the facilities are concentrated to the capital city.
The main facility is the enormous Youth Centre, which was established in Male’ on 21st February 1981 with the aim of providing education and opportunities to the youth enabling them to manage their leisure time in a productive manner by engaging them in social and recreational activities . A large variety of youth associated activities and programs are held periodically and it is the most popular venue for gatherings and functions amongst the youth. The centre includes a main hall, outdoor sport courts, music rooms, library, cyber café and an outdoors big screen.
The Youth and Sports development Centre at ‘Bolhage’, Henveiru Stadium, is associated with the training and development of the youth and their related activities.
Peripheral Youth Centres are present in each district of the capital, the Machangolhi centre being an exception currently. The centres provide the youth with means of leisure and recreational activities.
The Youth Camp at K. Huraa provides an alternative to the youth by offering outdoors education via activities and programs held at the campThe main purpose of the camp is to encourage the participating youth in volunteer services, attaining leadership qualities and teamwork. The youth, who are unemployed and those who actively participate in youth and sports clubs are encouraged to make the maximum utilization of the camp.
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YOUTH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Being the central facility for youth related activities, a large number of programs are held at the Youth Centre, while most of the training and development programs are undertaken by the Youth and Sports Development Centre. The activities are distributed to the islands, as short courses or workshops, via Zone Youth Centres and NGOs associated with the particular islands.
Youth Career Guidance Programme, provides career guidance, career counseling and information to school and youth. This programme assists the youth in choosing a career, planning for further education and training and for employment. Information is offered on the educational opportunities abroad and special assistance is given to dealing and meeting the challenges of the current job market.
An annual event entitled, The Youth Challenge, is held at the Youth centre, providing the youth with widespread information on jobs and educational courses available in Maldives as well as abroad.
Youth Counseling Service provides the youth with opportunities to discuss their problems with reliable, qualified professionals and to guide them in dealing and solving them. The programme offers individual and group counseling on various subjects and problems. The service can be obtained via a phone call or even in person, depending on the person’s convenience.
A youth friendly service corner was established at the Youth centre in April 2004 entitled, The Youth Health Café, which aims to provide the youth with an atmosphere contusive to discuss their issues and to get solutions regarding them. Its main concern is the health and well being of the youth and hence gives extensive information and guidance in reproductive health via talk sessions and leaflets. Various awareness programs on the hazards of Sexually Transmitted Diseases especially HIV/AIDS, are conducted by the Youth Health Café. In addition to these, free medical check-ups and consultation is also provided. |
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Music skills development Programmes are conducted for young musicians with potential to improve their skills and talent and to master them. Music bands are trained at their request by the Youth Centre to enable them to perform in public. Financial assistance and support is also provided to many other island based bands via the NGOs.
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Youth Awareness Programme assists the youth to develop life skills and obtain knowledge from different areas and walks of life. Special seminars and workshops are organized in addition to a variety of activities for youth on national occasions.
A large variety of indoor and outdoors sports tournaments are organized annually and on special occasions in addition to the everyday-available-facilities provided by the numerous youth centres located throughout the country. |
Sport is, however, mainly viewed as an event to promote teamwork, good harmony, and leadership skills rather than just winning and losing.
Physical Fitness Programme aims at developing healthy, fit and active young individuals, instilling in them an awareness of the importance of exercise for a healthy productive life. Knowledge of the rules and habits of exercising is provided by qualified instructors. Gyms and Fitness clubs are present in each youth centre enabling widespread distribution of the service.
The Entrepreneurship Programme aims at developing young, opportunity based entrepreneurs, by undertaking awareness programmes and educating the youth with the necessary training and skills and giving them assistance in their businesses. Although the Programme has been running for sometime, it has been officially launched fairly recent by the special sector, Youth Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development unit (YEED). It also includes a Financial Loan Programme, which can be able to give the youth a head start in their endeavors in the field of business.
Environment Awareness Programmes are conducted extensively participating the youth in environmental activities such as plantation of trees, training in agriculture, aquaculture, etc. The aim of this Programme is to produce a youth community conscious of the environment and to be able to build their lives in sustainable developing environmental conditions.
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Drug Awareness Program is conducted in association with the National Narcotics Control Bureau and has been carried out is some islands via special expertise teams, giving the public information on the abuse of drugs and rehabilitation services.
Parent Effectiveness Training Programme, inaugurated very recently, aims at producing young parents skilled at enhancing the relationship within the family, as well as producing a generation of children who are a credit to the community. Training of trainers workshop has been conducted for facilitators in Male’ and from the atolls. |
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Youth Skill Development and Training Programmes:
Advanced Certificate Course in Youth counseling.
It provides the opportunity for the youth who has an interest in working with people to develop an understanding of the complex, social world that we live in. It produces youth counselors, who can in turn help their fellow youth in dealing with life and its difficulties. They would be especially familiar with psychological approaches, understanding youth and their related issue, cultural diversity and working with the youth.
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| Advanced Certificate Course in Youth Work |
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This course is concerned with the social and personal development of the youth in a very broad sense. It uses the participatory training which seeks to bring about changes in the cognitive, competency and attitudinal dimensions which will influence the community development process. It aims to produce youth workers who would have the qualities and skills needed for successful employment, marketing, surveying and credit management with special emphasis on small scale enterprises.
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Certificate in Photography
It focuses on helping student understand the theory of photography and black and while film processing and printing skills. It encourages the youth to express their individuality through the expression of photography and trains professional photographers.
Certificate in Hair Dressing and Beauty Care. |
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The course facilitates the participants to practice hair dressing at an advanced level, and to make a livelihood out of the skills acquired.
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Certificate in Dress Making
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This course is by far the most popular amongst young women. It enables the participant to acquire basic fundamentals and advanced techniques in dress making and encourages them to pursue the field as a career. |
Certificate in Fabric Painting.
It aims to produce participants with a good knowledge of fabric painting, enabling them to express their individuality through this art. It also allows the youth to make a living out of it.
• Although these courses are not sex specified, the average rate at which young women take part in these courses and programs are well above that of young men, hence providing a good platform for the future productiveness of women of the nation. Many other short term courses are conducted throughout the country, concurrent with the public’s needs and requirements at a given time.
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SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDING
Funding is, to a very large extent, provided by the government and most of the activities are hence self-sponsored. Funding is generally distributed to private sectors, i.e. clubs and associations via the National Association of NGOs.
Securing financial assistance from donors remains an area of potential, and currently support is provided by the UN agencies.
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PROMOTION OF YOUTH ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES AND
RECREATION
The National Youth Awards was inaugurated in the year 1999 to recognize and welcome the achievements and success of the individuals who selflessly work for the general good of the community and to encourage them to continue their efforts. The award encourages the youth to work for the development of the country, and to demonstrate that they are responsible people with good qualities making them an asset to the society.
The Shaheed Jawaad Umar Memorial Award is rewarded to the youth of outstanding heroic achievements. It is a very unique and special award, and encourages the youth towards noble deeds, which works for the betterment of the society as a whole.
In order to provide proper and efficient assistance and support to the various non-government youth clubs and associations, The Youth clubs/association development policy had been formulated by the Ministry. It outlines the status and conditions of the clubs/associations and ensures that they are in concurrence with the conditions required by the Ministry to offer them assistance.
With the objective of tackling youth related problems, the “Maldivian Year of the Youth” was marked in 1992. During the year, a National Conference on Youth was held and a National Plan of Action was adopted. In the same year, the Maldives hosted the first Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. Since the year, the Youth Day has been officially celebrated nationally.
The Media, i.e. newspapers, TV, Radio, is widely used to promote the youth associated activities, via special articles, programs and shows targeted towards the youth
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