As part of the Annual Holiday Programmes planned by Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC), several fun activities including swimming classes, fishing trips, a magic show and water sports have been organized to be carried out for children at shelters, during the school holidays.
A total of four fishing trips are scheduled forearly January, for over 60 children from Kudakudhinge Hiya,with 15 children joining each trip. The first two trips took place on the 1st and 8th of January, respectively, organized and funded by Centurion PLC, with lifeguards on board, from Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), for the safety of the children. Similarly, swimming lessons for all the children from Kudakudhinge Hiya also commenced on New Year’s Day, inVillingili, under the guidance of swimming instructors and lifeguards from MNDF.
The magic showheldon 2 January at Fiyavathi had the children enthralled, and the Holiday Art Programme is also proving to be very popular with the children. The Holiday Art Programme is an extension of the ‘Journey of Art Programme being conducted at Kudakudhinge Hiya, in partnership with Kurumba Maldives. In addition, a water sports event is also planned for Fiyavathi, to be conducted by Beach Club Maldives at a latter date. Over 90 children of ages 0-13 currently live at Fiyavathi Shelter in Hulhumale’, whilst Kudakudhinge Hiya in Villingili is home to over 60 girls and boys of ages 13 and above.
ARC extends a very special thank you to Centurion PLC, MNDF, Beach Club Maldives and Kurumba Maldives, for their generous and thoughtful contributions for children living under State Care. ARC notes with utmost gratitude, the continued support provided by State Institutions, Private Organizations and individuals, for ARC’s Shelter Support Programme, through which ARC organizes various educational and recreational activities for children at shelters, as well capacity building trainings for childcare workers. ARC looks forward to continue working closely with the community to help bring about positive change in the lives of children living in Shelters in the Maldives.