Naifaru Juvenile - Small steps towards bigger achievements

For small-inhabited islands such as Naifaru, the simplest initiative paves many pathways towards new developments and subsequent opportunities for the locals who are always eager and enthusiastic to participate actively to improve their livelihood and the local economy. The Juvenile Aquarium project by Naifaru Juvenlie, for the conservation of marine biodiversity and awareness for environmental issues, is well integrated with the Naifaru local community, and particularly active with Naifaru schools including participation from schools across the entire Lhaviyani Atoll. These activities were carried out as part of the students' Nature Clubs with a series of awareness programs and was organised within the academic year calendar. The objects of this project focused mainly on developing community awareness about environmental issues such as waste management, protecting endangered species and coral rehabilitation.

The project, funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF SGP) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has proved sustainable developments for the local community of Naifaru and other islands in Lhaviyani Atoll. The future growth of these developments promises expansions of the Marine Conservation Center to become an educative and environment conscious institutional body that contributes mutually benefiting outcomes for both the environment and the community that inhabits it.