THE
AMINIYA GIRLS EXCEL
It is the long school holidays in the tropics and
a group of four young ladies from the Maldivian
girls school, Aminiya, have just completed the Banyan
Tree Marine Laboratory internship program. The schedule
provided an experience of all the resort’s
dedicated conservation efforts that are run by Mr
Azeez. The intern program is designed to increase
environmental awareness amongst local children and
to develop the next generation of environmental
stewards.
The 4 girls, Niasha, Reesha, Ilhama and Aisha, took
part in our shark research program; our multiple
coral rehabilitation and research programs; and
also completed several private study tasks we had
set to encourage their knowledge of marine biology
and conservation.
The studies will help the girls with their schoolwork
and also provide a unique fieldwork experience of
the beautiful marine life in the Maldives. By seeing
the beauty of the underwater world and learning
of its fragility we hope to inspire conservation
action.
FULLFILLING DEVELOPMENT GOALS The internship program
assists the local community in three different ways.
1) We are providing opportunities for interactive
education to the schoolchildren;
2) we are creating a more sustainable future by
developing environmental stewards; and
3), we are empowering Maldivian women by specifically
assisting a group of girls.
These are all targets set within the National Development
Programme and the UN Millennium Development Goals.
WORKING IN THE TOURIST SECTOR
Travel and tourism are the largest employment sector
of the Maldivian economy. However, most people in
the workforce will only get to see the countries’
hotels and resorts when they begin their first day
of work. One of the most basic services our education
and internship programs provide is a firsthand opportunity
for the children to see how the industry works and
learn how to manage different sections of a hotel.
Whilst on the island the girls had a tour of every
department and spoke with all the department heads,
both Maldivian and International. This crucial insight
into the possible job opportunities will help them
to direct their studies towards the areas they most
wish to pursue and plan their future development
accordingly.
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The girls record shark growth data in the lagoon
Under
the sea Ilhama places coral tiles for studies
Preparing
to build the famous Vabbinfaru Coral Gardens
The
girls experience the wonder of diving
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