First Lady Fazna Ahmed has stated that beaches in islands should be seen as a place where smoking is prohibited and such habits should be revived. She made these remarks while speaking at the final events of the INSPIRE Shore to Open Water Festival held in Dhonfanu, Baa Atoll. The Dhonfanu Island Council organised the three-day festival in collaboration with Soneva Namoona.
The second edition of the annual festival featured beach and island cleaning events and a water polo competition. First Lady Fazna inaugurated the final game of the water polo competition, held to inspire friendly competition between island communities, improve the water confidence of residents, and deepen their environmental stewardship. She also joined the island community to witness a simulation drill to showcase the swimming talents of instructors. A total of 253 youths from Dharavandhoo, Dhonfanu, Kihaadhoo, and Kamadhoo in Baa Atoll and Kudafari in Noonu Atoll were trained in the programme.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady commended the exemplary strategy adhered to by Soneva Namoona to create a fondness for the ocean and awareness of ocean safety. She also emphasised the importance of learning to swim and water rescue skills. She also expressed her wish to see island communities promoting smoke-free beaches which is both an environmental and public health issue. She stated that it would eliminate the possibility of children finding the byproducts of smoking when they play on the beaches.
The festival was held at Dhonfanu to promote respect and love for the ocean and the environment. The swimming and water rescue instructor programme aims to develop the next generation of ocean goers and nurture ocean stewardship across island communities. The programme achieves the objective by training instructors who then train confident swimmers in their communities, equipping them with the necessary skills to enjoy the ocean safely.
Soneva Namoona is a non-governmental organisation that pioneers innovations to create empowered zero-waste communities in the Maldives centred around the three pillars of Reduce, Recycle, and Inspire. Since the original pilot of three local islands in 2019, the number of Namoona islands has increased to 21 across Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Noonu Atoll and Baa Atoll. Soneva Namoona strives to create community-specific solutions to complex issues like waste management in close partnership with island communities.