June 2020

At a time of such uncertainty in the world, we're excited to share some great news with you about our community outreach in Laamu Atoll.

Working with our colleagues from the Maldives Underwater Initiative, we've taken hundreds of kids snorkelling throughout Laamu Atoll in past years. Six Senses Laamu has always let us graciously borrow equipment for these activities, but we've never been able to provide kids with snorkelling equipment of their own. We hope that the snorkelling sessions help kids better understand the marine environment, and instil a passion to better protect it. With borrowing the gear from the resort, snorkelling only takes place when we visit; therefore, the kids don't have many opportunities to explore their local reefs and learn.

Last year, we received a grant from Blue You, a consulting group with support from Mares, a dive equipment provider, to purchase 195 sets of snorkelling equipment for the schools in Laamu Atoll. We donated the gear at the annual Laamafaru festival, and each school received 15 sets of snorkelling equipment for their students. Each school has developed their own sign out system and kids can borrow the equipment for snorkelling around their home island. With limited sets of equipment, the sign out system will ensure that the gear is well taken care of for years to come and that many students have access to the equipment.

Throughout 2019, we brought more than 100 kids snorkelling, and for many of the kids, it was their first time seeing a coral reef. In January, one girl from L. Maamendhoo was very excited to tell one of the MUI team members about the snorkelling she’s been able to do since our visit. She was one of the kids in my group and after snorkelling with us, she convinced her grandfather to take her snorkelling again with the borrowed equipment. She told him about the lesson and he bought snorkelling gear for her to have of her own, so she could go out more often! We can’t wait to chat with her once local island restrictions are lifted and hear all about her snorkelling adventures with her family.

At the start of 2020, we continued snorkelling activities in the community and were able to bring kids from two local islands snorkelling before the COVID-19 restrictions were put into place. One of our goals for this year was to take kids snorkelling from all 13 islands, and while that's on hold, we still have some exciting news to share!

With the donations in 2019 going so well, we received the same grant in 2020 to support community snorkelling initiatives! We recently ordered 15 more sets of equipment for each school! Previously, we ran shorter sessions due to the kids having to share equipment, but once each school has 30 sets after this donation, we'll be able to get the kids more involved and give them more time to practice snorkelling. With the equipment belonging to each school, the schools can then lend the equipment to the students or use it for practical sessions with their lessons. We haven't announced the donation to the schools yet, but we can't wait to let them know once everything has arrived.