Velaa Private Island brings Fehikuramaa 2026 to all 13 inhabited islands of Noonu Atoll

Velaa Private Island has marked the sixth consecutive year of its Fehikuramaa community initiative, reaffirming its long-term commitment to supporting the communities of Noonu Atoll through programmes that respond to local needs and evolve alongside them.

The 2026 edition, centred around the theme “Positive Lifestyle,” brought sport, movement and community participation to all 13 inhabited islands of Noonu Atoll. Between 26 August and 10 September, sports festivals were held across the atoll, engaging 3,034 students in activities designed to encourage movement, teamwork, participation and the positive role that an active lifestyle can play in everyday wellbeing.

The programme began with an inauguration ceremony on Hendbadhoo and concluded with a closing ceremony on Holhudhoo, marking another milestone in Velaa Private Island’s ongoing relationship with the local communities of Noonu Atoll.

Six Years of Evolving with the Community

Launched in 2021 as part of Velaa Private Island’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Fehikuramaa was initially created to address waste management challenges faced by local communities in Noonu Atoll. From its beginning, the initiative focused on building awareness, providing practical support and encouraging communities to adopt more sustainable practices.

Over the following six years, Fehikuramaa has continued to grow and adapt. What began with environmental awareness and waste management expanded to address ocean pollution, recycling, waste separation, composting and gardening, alongside practical environmental solutions delivered directly within the communities. The 2023 programme, for example, introduced home composting and gardening, while the initiative also provided reusable bottles and tote bags, water dispensers and waste-segregation bins across the atoll.

In 2024, the initiative continued its environmental focus under the theme “Homemade”, encouraging communities to explore practical, locally made alternatives and sustainable solutions. Velaa also donated waste shredders to all 13 islands, supporting the continued development of local waste-management and recycling efforts.

The programme subsequently expanded into areas of water safety, nutrition and healthy living, reflecting an increasingly holistic approach to community wellbeing. In 2025, Fehikuramaa reached all 13 inhabited islands for the first time in its fifth consecutive year, with the programme focusing on nutrition and healthy lifestyles This year, the focus has evolved once again — from healthy habits to positive lifestyles through sport and active participation.

3,034 Students Take Part in Fehikuramaa 2026

The 2026 programme brought sports festivals directly to each of Noonu Atoll’s inhabited islands, creating opportunities for children to participate together in an energetic and inclusive community environment.

With 3,034 students taking part, the initiative placed enjoyment, participation and movement at the centre of this year’s programme. Rather than focusing solely on competition, the festivals encouraged children to experience sport as a way of building confidence, teamwork, friendships and positive daily habits.

In response to frequent requests from the local communities, every participating student also received a new reusable bottle and tote bag. The practical gifts reinforce the wider Fehikuramaa message of making positive choices that can continue beyond the festival and into everyday life.

Mohamed Mausoom, General Manager of Velaa Private Island, said: “Fehikuramaa has always been about more than a single programme or a single year. For six consecutive years, we have had the privilege of working alongside the communities of Noonu Atoll and learning from their needs, ideas and aspirations. What began with a focus on waste management and environmental awareness has grown into a broader commitment to wellbeing, education, sustainability and community development.”

“This year, we wanted to bring people together through something positive, active and enjoyable. Sport provides a wonderful platform for building confidence, encouraging healthy habits and strengthening community connections. Seeing more than 3,000 students take part across all 13 inhabited islands has been a particularly meaningful chapter in the Fehikuramaa journey.”

A Long-Term Commitment to Noonu Atoll

Fehikuramaa reflects Velaa Private Island’s belief that meaningful community engagement is built over time. Rather than following a fixed annual format, the programme has continued to evolve with the changing needs and interests of the communities it serves.

The initiative has brought together schools, local councils, community groups, specialists and residents, with activities designed to provide practical knowledge as well as tangible support. This approach reflects the close relationship between Velaa Private Island and the surrounding communities of Noonu Atoll.

The philosophy is also reflected in Fehikuramaa’s name. Fehikuramaa, broadly translated from Dhivehi as “Let’s make the environment greener,” was chosen to express the initiative’s original environmental purpose. Over six years, however, that vision has grown to encompass a broader understanding of what it means to create stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities. The 2023 release similarly described the programme as having evolved into a comprehensive initiative rather than remaining solely focused on waste management.

As Fehikuramaa enters its seventh year, Velaa Private Island remains committed to continuing the journey together with the communities of Noonu Atoll. The initiative will continue to grow, adapt and evolve in response to local needs, building on the foundations established over the past six years while exploring new ways to support education, wellbeing, sustainability and community development across the atoll. For Velaa Private Island, Fehikuramaa represents a long-term commitment rather than a once-a-year initiative, one that continues to grow through listening, collaboration and shared participation with the communities of Noonu Atoll.

Fehikuramaa means “Let’s make the environment greener” in Dhivehi. Launched by Velaa Private Island in 2021, the initiative was established as a long-term CSR programme supporting sustainable improvements across the communities of Noonu Atoll.

From its beginnings with environmental education and waste-management awareness, Fehikuramaa has expanded to encompass a broad range of community initiatives, including education, sports, water safety, nutrition, wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

The programme is developed in consultation with local communities and delivered in collaboration with schools, island councils and community organisations, with the aim of creating practical, lasting benefits for the people of Noonu Atoll.

Nestled within the constellation of islands that form the Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, Velaa Private Island takes exclusivity to the next level with facilities and service that go beyond traditional resorts. Designed by award-winning Czech architect Petr Kolar as “an elegant fusion of Maldivian culture with contemporary luxury, intimate with Maldivian nuances”.

Velaa Private Island is the realisation of a dream to create a ‘beyond luxury’ exclusive boutique hideaway in the Maldives. Velaa means “Turtle” in the local language – named after generations of sea turtles that flock there to nest and hatch. From a broader “bird’s eye view” which greets arrivals by seaplane, the island’s exclusive over-water villas are also constructed to resemble the head of a turtle, with the island forming the body.

The resort comprises 47 private villas, houses and exclusive residences. While 18 of the 47 are built over water, the Romantic Pool Residence can only be reached by boat, allowing even more privacy and exclusivity.