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A cry from Naifaru Island; who will help them?

by a Youth in Lh. Naifaru, 27th June 2004

Naifaru Island - Maldives

Recently, one of my friends told me how to get into the Dhivehi Observer site. Now, everyday I am reading your site and I find it very interesting. The people who are doing that, is really doing a wonderful work. Please keep that good work for the sake of our children.

Please listen to me. For the last 10 years I have been studying in Naifaru School. My father is a Keyolhu on one of the fishing boats of Naifaru. There are 7 children in my family and the eldest of all is me. So, my father always tries to support me with my education despite the fact that he gets very little money, after selling the fish to Felivaru.

I left the school last year and after leaving the school, I tried to find a job in Naifaru School or Office. When I couldn't find any, then I tried all over the atoll even going to the nearby tourist resorts. But no one offered me a job. Then, I went to Male' but there also I couldn't find a job that can support me with the huge living cost in Male'.

In Naifaru there are about 400 people like me without any job. Most of them are school leavers during the past few years. When they got nothing to do, they just hang around in the island, running after girls and looking for
drugs. The situation in Naifaru is unimaginable. Our government is not doing anything to solve the problem. Naifaru Katheeb and the member representing us in the Parliament Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is staying silent. Is that
the way our members should represent us in the Parliament? Who is going to solve this problem? Can anyone help us? Perhaps MDP?

Editorial Note

The island of Naifaru is famous in the Maldives as a cradle of knowledge. The famous Madhurasath Al-Saniyya is one of the oldest schools in the country. People of Naifaru are on average more educated and are known to be very forthcoming to protect their rights and fight for what they believe in. Located in Lhaviyani Atoll, Naifaru is very close to the first canning factory in the Maldives in Felivaru Island and also there are several new resorts in the Atoll. It should be noted that Naifaru is amongst the major islands of the Maldives such as S. Hithadhoo, G.Dh Thinadhoo, HA. Dhidhdhoo, B. Eydhafushi and L. Gan, which are potential economic centres. However, because of the centralised policies of Gayyoom, these centres have not prospered appropriately and have not been self sufficient.