ABOUT US

Save the Beach Maldives (STBM) started in 2007 as a youth movement in Villimale’ to preserve the natural beaches on the Island from coastal development.

The main activities of STBM at the time were hosting cleaning events once a year, planting trees around Villimale’ and participating in different community activities.

Thanks to its work, Save the Beach has inspired many cleaning events across the Maldives, including in Hulhumale’.

The cleaning events focused not only on the beaches but also on the reef surrounding Villimale’. Through the years many supporters took part in these events: the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), the Maldives Police Services, many governments and private offices, other NGOs, schools, dive centres and public officials.

Tonnes of garbage were removed from the beach and reef, among which were plastic, metal scraps, bottles, diapers and a wide range of garbage items.

Volunteers and activists of Save the Beach have keenly observed the ongoing changes to the island due to reclamation, and how the work on the jetties and harbour has completely destroyed the reef and the habitats of many living creatures. STBM has constantly lobbied for the protection of beaches and reefs.

Hassan (Beybe) Ahmed led the initiatives and co-founded the movement along with the youth of Villimale’.

Hassan (Beybe) Ahmed has been a resident of Villimale’ from the very beginning of the Island development and has been a conservationist from the time the first harbour was made. At that time he could witness the impact of these works on the reef when he noticed how much it was affected.

Hassan (Beybe) Ahmed orchestrated all of the activities of Save the Beach since the beginning and registered the organisation as a Non-Government Organisation in 2014. Since then STBM has carried out various successful projects and programs.

Nowadays, Save the Beach Maldives aims to conserve and preserve the beaches and reefs of Villimale’ and the Maldives. The main objectives are to study and research the reefs, improve and implement coral restoration projects around the Maldives and train the local community on waste management and conservation works through active and passive coral restoration.

STBM already reached a few islands to carry out sustainable long-term projects for waste management and coral reef conservation.

Save the Beach Maldives works to improve the knowledge of the island communities in order for them to protect their own islands from climate change and human impacts.

Please do your part together we can change the world into a better place.