Maldives youth activists protest environmental damage from land reclamation

These activists, part of the nonprofit Project ThimaaVeshi, are addressing issues like coastal erosion, plastic pollution, and damaged ecosystems, which are immediate daily concerns rather than distant threats. In Addu City, the focus is on the impact of overdevelopment on wetlands and reefs, while in the capital, Male, others are tackling the pervasive plastic waste. The groups are also educating youth on their right to a clean and healthy environment and collaborating with other organizations for cleanups.

Experts warn that the Maldives, located south of India and Sri Lanka, is expected to be around 80% uninhabitable within the next 50 years due to rising sea levels. Despite the nation championing its fight against climate change vulnerability, activists argue that protective measures are not being implemented fast enough, with the government citing the need for development sacrifices.

Yameen Maumoon, a 21-year-old co-founder of Project ThimaaVeshi, described their initial efforts as "just us and a bunch of hopes and dreams." Maumoon and Mishal Mushahid began their activism as student leaders, and their group evolved into a registered nonprofit after they graduated from high school.