President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has officially welcomed the first recruits of the Maldives National Service programme, marking the launch of one of his administration’s flagship youth initiatives.
A total of 343 young Maldivians, accompanied by their families, departed on Wednesday for Lhaviyani Maafilaafushi, where they will undergo three months of intensive training. The recruits, aged between 16 and 29, were selected from 1,242 applicants and include 64 women and 279 men representing 107 islands across the country.
In a message shared on X, President Muizzu congratulated the participants and their families, describing the occasion as a historic step in shaping a disciplined, skilled, and community-focused generation.
The National Service programme is designed to instill national pride, civic responsibility, and Islamic values while equipping participants with practical and professional skills. Training will place equal emphasis on discipline, moral development, physical fitness, and mental well-being.
According to the President’s Office, the programme is intended not only to prepare young people for future roles in community development but also to lay a foundation for contributions to the Maldives’ security services.
The initiative will be held annually from this year onwards, providing structured training, educational opportunities, and civic engagement platforms for Maldivian youth nationwide. Officials noted that the programme represents a cornerstone of the administration’s broader youth policy, aimed at empowering young people as active stakeholders in national development.
