The project

Experience the true beauty of the Maldives as you live and work on the remote Naifaru island. As a volunteer, you will inspire young minds, help bridge cultural gaps and contribute to sustainable community development programs alongside our dedicated team on the ground. Your focus will be on providing opportunities for youth engagement through sports, education and environmental awareness.

You will also play a part in our coastal conservation initiative, assisting marine biologists with the protection and rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles at our floating marine centre. The sea pen, which is the first of its kind in the Maldives, ensures turtles are in a natural environment while being cared for, placing less stress on them and encouraging speedy recovery. 

The quaint island of Naifaru, where volunteers are housed, is home to six schools catering to pupils from grade one to 12. You will collaborate with these establishments, becoming an integral part of their network as you assist teachers with kindergarten classes. Gain a deeper understanding of the education system on the island as you help navigate challenges faced by locals and get involved in lesson planning and implementation. 

As with most things in life, it’s all about balance! Encourage students to have fun by planning extracurricular activities like sporting events where they can improve their physical health and learn the importance of teamwork. You will have the flexibility to adapt your sports focus to suit your interests, experiences and passions. This could mean teaching sports like football/soccer, volleyball, tennis or swimming. You will also design training plans for pupils and organise sporting tournaments within the community.

Social activities like nature clubs provide a fun and interesting way to teach children about local conservation efforts – a trip to our marine centre is a great place to start!  

Activities

As a volunteer in this program, you will contribute to key projects and activities, which may include:

1. Kindergarten classes: Assist local teachers with kindergarten classes that involve interactive activities and educational play. You will also provide students with the opportunity to learn about new cultures and ways of living. 

2. Extracurricular activities: help plan activities like sporting events, art classes, or nature clubs at our marine centre. 

3. Sports: Teach a variety of sports including football/soccer, futsal, volleyball, handball, badminton, tennis and swimming. Help design training plans and organise tournaments within the community. 

You will also get involved in coastal conservation activities, which may include:

1. Beach cleans and marine awareness: Join efforts to keep beaches clean while promoting marine and environmental awareness among the Naifaru youth. 

2. Turtle husbandry: Help clean and feed rescued sea turtles, clean turtle tanks and collect seagrass for resident green turtles. 

3. Turtle rehabilitation: Take resident sea turtles on rehabilitation ocean swims and participate in enrichment activities to help exercise their bodies and minds. 

Location

Situated north of Male, Naifaru is the fifth most populated island in the Maldives and the capital of the Lhaviyani Atoll. Get a taste of authentic island life as you immerse yourself in the culture of the Naifaru community, home to over 5,000 residents. 

While participating in this program, you will live and work among locals on this remote island, experiencing everyday life through their eyes. The volunteer house in the village is a two-minute walk from the beach, giving you easy access to the ocean for activities like swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing or relaxing sunset walks. 

Down time

You will have Saturdays off for island excursions which are included in the program. Excursion activities vary, but may include exploring uninhabited islands and snorkelling. While out in the open waters, be on the lookout for incredible marine life found in the area like manta rays, dolphins and sharks!

The Maldives is home to five of the seven sea turtle species found in the world – green sea turtles, hawksbill turtles, leatherback turtles, loggerhead turtles and olive ridley turtles – so keep an eye out for those, too! Visitors have also been known to spot whale sharks in the South Ari Atoll.

For a unique dining experience, book a table at the Ithaa Undersea restaurant, secured five metres below sea level. And if you feel like exploring more of the ocean, PADI courses and fun dives are available to participants through Aqua Dive Shop. Dives can be paid for on site.