Afsal is School Captain! Zahira is Deputy School Captain!

Afsal ran for School Captaincy this month! And we are happy to inform all our readers that he has been elected as the School Captain for Jalaluddin School, Kulhuduffushi for 2012!
We are equally happy to announce that our very own Zahira Hassan has also been chosen as Deputy School Captain! We are in no doubt that you both will bring many positive changes to your school. We also believe that this is only the beginning of many great things that you will do for your community and our country. Congratulations, Afsal and Zahira! We are very proud of you!

A Hoping Mother...

Dear sir/madam,

You don’t know my name; you don’t know who I am. You don’t know the color of my skin or the faith that I believe in. you don’t know what makes my spirit soar or what causes a smile to break across my face but today I am going to tell you about an incident that had shattered my heart not so long ago.

I am a mother or rather I was one. I carried another soul inside me for 9 months and 9 days. I borne all the burdens that came my way mixed with the absolute joy of creating an unspoiled human being, one who is pure and untouched by the worldly traits we inevitably acquire as we grow up, with eager anticipation. I spent a tedious 14 hours of labor pushing my daughter out in to the world with inexpressible gratification in my heart and then spent a quiet moment in solace shedding a few tears of profound happiness and absolute wonder as I crooned her delicate body to sleep, tucked in my arms. And then I spent uncountable hours where heart wrenching sobs broke out of my body as I buried her young form in the gloomy cemetery one bleak Monday morning.

I am not telling my tale today in search of pity but instead with the deep hope that by telling you the terms of how my daughter came to her death you will be able to prevent it from happening to your own sons, daughters, wives, husbands and loved ones.

The cause for my daughter’s departure from this world can be expressed easily by one single word but the full impact of what this disease did to her body I hard to be fathomed by a few mere sentences.

My young child was inflicted by an illness most commonly known as AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus. Even though the majority of us have heard about this disease throughout the course of our lives, only precious few are completely aware of the consequences and the torment that this disease has brought to the lives of more than 33 million people on this planet.

This is a disease that beats down the immune system of the body so that you are in danger of succumbing to the clutched of even the most common disease such as cold or pneumonia which can prove to be fatal for you. You are restricted from living your life to the fullest and is often shunned by the society who fails to understand that you are also a human being with feelings and emotions as they treat you like an unstable bomb which might explode at any moment. This is a disease that inevitably leads to death and threatens the very existence of our species as we speak, for the number of people who are being infected each and every day has already risen up to an astonishing number of 7400. This is also a disease which despite the astounding revolutions in the field if medicine remains without a cure. Our best solution is prevention and for this we need to spread awareness.

There are four main ways where we can be infected by the HIV virus which leads to AIDS but much to my chagrin there only a few number of people who apprehend these facts forcing me to ask what will happen to the rest of the population who remain unaware? Some say ignorance is bliss but I believe in this case insufficient knowledge is going to be the curse which will ultimately lead to the end of our race as we speak.

So my fellow brothers and sisters, today the fate of the world depends on us. Perhaps you might not be able to save our kind single handedly. After all one person cannot do everything but nevertheless if each person does his part I believe in the end it will be enough to ensure that everyone remains enlightened about the steps that can be taken to prevent AIDS from bringing destruction to our lives.

Today I am taking my step forward to creating awareness among people by revealing my story to you with the hope that it will make an impact on your life. Perhaps you will recount this story to your friends and it will eventually spread throughout the far corners of the world to every single person’s ear so that they would realize the importance of creating awareness about AIDS.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

A hoping mother

Written by: Mariyam Maisha Mohamed 

Jina is heading to Indonesia!

Our very own Jina is heading to Indonesia on a study tour from 29th January to 5th February! The opportunity was given to her through Maldivian Red Crescent. It's a great opportunity to learn, teach, and grow. And we're very excited for you, Jina! Do let us know about your experience and share! We'll be eagerly waiting!

Afzal runs for School Captaincy!

Our very own Afsal Ahmed is running for the post of School Captain at Jalaaluddin School, H.Dh. Kulhuduffushi! He was noted as a responsible member of YLP, who was punctual, obedient and very considerate of his other fellow YLP participants. He was also one of the participants who grew in confidence and gained charisma throughout the process of YLP. We believe he is a great fit for the post of School Captain!

We hope that this is the beginning of great things from Afsal, and we are very sure of the fact that he will make a great School Captain, and a great leader! Good luck, Afsal!

Mundane...

Have you looked at your past

To discover masts of sunken ships

And wished for another chance

To make it right with all your wits

Have you had your loved ones

And seen them pass away

Remember the days of sheer fun

You hoped they’d forever stay

Have you had great dreams

And seen a future so proven

But in frustration you scream

‘Cause your dreams are broken

Have you ever been so humane

But seen others being so mean

Then you thought they’re insane

For all that they have been

Have you ever cursed this man

For his thoughts aren’t so alike

I see you are truly mundane

You and me, we’re living a life

~Mohamed Hisham

This is also on his blog, so please do visit his blog, heedful thoughts to see what else he has come up with! :) 

Oh, the memories... by Shahaada Ahmed

Here's a snippet from Shaha's blog that we absolutely fell in love with. Check it out, readers! Also, check out her blog... its a worthwhile read.

 shahaahmed.blogspot.com/2011/12/oh-memories.html

I am...

I am the girl staring into the eyes of a small boy. A boy with such life in his eyes, such life and brightness I have seen in no other. Those eyes I stare into as confusion slowly fill them after listening to what I had to ask. I watch as those eyes that, only moments before, were lost and confused suddenly light up and smile. I watch as this little boy's eyes so joyous and carefree look up at me, ten, I hear him happily repear what I had asked him. This is the little boy who's footsteps I used to hear early in the morning. The little boy whose laugh used to fill the house. The little boy who's tantrums and cries took happiness away. This is a boy who is now far away, but is always near, a boy I will see again soon but miss anyway. This is the little boy who lights up my life. I am the girl staring into the eyes of a small boy.

I am the girl hiding safe behind the four walls of my room, sitting with my back against the wall farthest from the door. There, I sit, with my stereo booming as loud as it can, barely hearing a thing. There, I sit, the wall and floor shaking to the beat of the music sending vibrations through my body, barely feeling a thing. There, I sit, behind the safe walls of my room, only hearing my mother's screams as the hands that had once held her close turned into fists that leave behind wounds, that never heal, as the furniture she so carefully picked out crasjes into pieces around her. There, is where I sit and will remain sitting until those hands that had once held me so fear opened a door and destroyed the safety behind those four walls that were my sanctuary only minutes before. I am the girl hiding safe behind the four walls of my room.

I am the woman in need of a way out, rapped in a society where women who don't cover their faces are considered impure, where women are forced into marriages arranged by parents, where women are deprived of the education they deserve and need. Trapped, because of being terrified of the shame my family will go through if I was to leave. In need of a way out of the household run by an abusive husband, a way to escape the names I am called due to accusations of crimes I did not commit. This is the society where men dominate and where any woman brave enough to fight against the crimes committed by men are severely punished. The society in which I stand helpless as women are punished and murdered in the name of justice for crimes equally committed by men. The society so perfect on the outside but drowning in secrets and lies on the inside. I am a woman in need of a way out.

I am the woman who is treated different. Treated different because the color of my skin is not the same as that of the 'real Americans'. Despite trusting me to raise their children, cook their meals wash their clothes, and clean their houses, I am not trusted not to steal their valuables, to use their bathroom or to eat from their plates. All I can do is watch as the children I worked endlessly to raise as their parents. All I can do is nod as my 'real American' employer insults my people, my children, my hygiene, my intelligence and my race. All I can do is hope. Hope that things change, hope and pray for a time when whites and blacks can live together in peace. I am the woman who is treated different.

 ~ Mariyam Zana Naseer 

Let Me Dream...

In my sweet slumber I rise above the seven skies with fairies playing by my side and angels dancing to the song of stars who lay with me on beds of clouds. 

Yet come light, my wings reduce to nothing and my soft bed of clouds turns rock hard. Music gets replaced with screams of pain and angels turn vile and crude. 

Had I a place to go, hide or run I would. Yet, I have no option but to live a life of hell. I wish for death though it seems vary. I ask you, what did I do to deserve such....
Tell me what I did that was wrong... 

Tell me why my dreams can't be real...

~ Anonymous

After all this time

Remembering the past, yet not thinking about it. Living the night, while planning tomorrow. She regrets none and still is the same, knowing that beneath all the ruins and tears shed, she'll find him again. Shes still loving him after all this time. And behind her tired eyes she sees the boy like an angel. She's still loving him... after all this time...

~ Miusaam Rasheed

Everyone's Hero

You spoke about love and care,
You've talked about the rights of women,
You've fought well for the society,
You've gained respect all around,
You were everyone's hero;

You spoke about love,
You spoke about care,
You spoke beautiful words about humanity,
You were proud of how the world saluted you,
You were truly their hero;

You spoke about love and care,
Went home to a loving wife,
You thrashed her,
Till she was blue alright,
She kept silent, for you were truly her hero;

You spoke about love and care,
Once to this this person you bruised today,
A woman raped from her dignity,
Ever so gentle, ever so loving,
For this one man who was still her hero;

You spoke about love and care,
Infront of a little girl who called you her parent,
Yet you crushed in your hands,
The life of this little girl, to whom nobody listened,
For yes you were everyone's hero;

He spoke about love and care,
He destroyed a girls life,
Her dreams torn at the seams,
Scarred oh so deeply,
Cause of this one man who was once her hero;

He speaks about love,
He speaks about care,
He cries for humanity,
And though there is nothing humane about him,
He was truly everyone's hero;

Dear world, he spoke about love,
He spoke about care,
And though he has never loved,
Or ever truly cared,
Dear world, how did he become your hero.

~ Aminath Shaayan Hussain

From them movies and sounds

I've seen them movies,
The sounds with feelings,
The vertigo pushing past my eyes;

Filling my eyes,
Pain of some kind,
True, it feels its always been mine;

What word or phrase,
Like a trip through a maze,
Could bring the meaning that we seek;

Have you seen them movies?
Heard sounds with feelings?
Or smelt the stench, putrid reek?

Injustice, that's one,
A war, not won,
Are we fighting for a reason we know?

It aches my heart,
Even before it starts,
To see the bitter hate that we saw;

Of this world I speak,
With a light that's bleak,
The one we walk on today;

Have you seen them movies?
Heard sounds with feelings?
Or been on streets with no names?

Yes, pain we have,
Spread far across thy land,
Yet we watch with no care or heed,

The powers in us,
With bonds of trust,
To be what we know we need;

We are the world,
So hear this call,
Stop the hate we don't deserve;

Lets take a stand,
With hand in hand,
To go there, our future to preserve.


~ Mohamed Axam Maumoon

Sifakurevunu Hayaath

Kuraane vaki kameh nei

Dhaane vaki manzilleh nei

Ehee ah edheyne faraatheh nei

Ekaniverikann filaane gotheh nei

Beynun vefaavaa ethah kameh

Beynun viyas vaakah nethey

Beynun kameh kuraaney gotheh

Beynun rangalhu hoadhan mageh

Eves kameh rangalhah nuvaa

Eves naseebeh libifaa nuvaa

Nikamehchekey heevey mithaa

Dhuniye mathee lahvaafaavaa

Hayaathuge dhathuru mi fehnanee

Banakamaa andhiree therey

Mee alhuganduge hayaath

Mihaathanah sifa kurevunu gothey

~Aishath Mohamed (Jina)

YLP members take initiative!

Ahmed Fazad at a YLP Fishing trip!

Some of our fellow YLP members are already emerging as budding leaders in their respective communities!

Our very own Ahmed Fazad [right] has taken initiative of talking and motivating 4-5 youth on his island, Adh. Dhangethi,  to take part in community activities! They held a meeting today with the Island Council to see how they can contribute, and they have started with helping the Island Council to maintain the roads and planting of trees.

Furthermore, our dear Mohamed Hisham [below] took part in a fundraising event at his island!. All of the proceedings will go directly into providing the necessary facilities for the PreSchool.

Mohamed Hisham at Thinakun Ekeh Campaign

Way to go, Fazad and Hisham! We are very proud of you both! This is the result we expect from the Youth Leadership Program, and we're glad such success stories reach our ears. We hope more students will follow in their footsteps and their example!

We hope that Fazad and Hisham will report back to us as much as they can, and give us even better news in the future!

Impressive tidbits from Commonwealth Essays!

We were deeply impressed with the Commonwealth entry essays by the participants of YLP, that we decided we should quote and feature some of it on this blog.

"Around five years back, if someone told me that a man born to a Kenyan father and raised in Indonesia would become the president of the most powerful country in the world, I would have laughed at that person. But today, I salute the man, Mr. Barack Obama for defying stereotypes and being an inspiration to all mankind.

"Of course, there are good leaders who were born into power, but the way I think about leadership has gone through a paradigm shift. I have learnt to broaden my mindset and believe that any body can be made a leader no matter where you came from or how much money your parents have."

~Shahaada Ahmed

"A good leader might be the one who leads the pack to the promised land, like what Michael Jackson did to the music industry, Nelson Mandela did to the South African people or Mother Teresa did to the Humanitarian causes. But it is important to remember, that they not only led, they followed"

"I am only one, but I am still one. I can't do everything, but still I can do something. And just because I can't do everything, I won't quit what I can do"

~Ibrahim Nawaf

"Whether its a man or a woman, old or young, rich or poor, a good leader has to be someone with a strong belief system"

"To be a good leader, all you need is a mind which is willing to learn, a soul that is ready to give, and a heart full of love. All you need is motivation and the drive to do good."

~Aishath Shifana Ahmed

"Times have changed, but I still believe that the lessons for our future lie in our past. I also believe, that to create change, there need not only be a single leader, but everyone could take that place."

"Determination also proves to be a strong defining point when one is born without all the means to fullfill one's life"

~Mohamed Axam Maumoon

"Whatever I become or wherever I go, my belief, my aim, my determination is to Live, Love, Learn and to Leave a Legacy for I will be remembered even when I am not around."

~Aishath Loona Moosa

"Leaders are everywhere... it could be in you, or even me"

"...we're too ignorant to listen, and discover the leader in each one of us"

~Mohamed Hisham

YLP attends Voices - Me Through My Lens!

Members of the Youth Leadership Program 2011 attended the exhibition on December 19th. Not only did we attend, but we also contributed to the exhibition by buying two of the pictures, in the name of all the YLP members!

The exhibition took place at the National Art Gallery, from the 19th to 20th December 2011. The pictures were taken by the kids at the orphanage, by themselves.

We hope our contribution, however small, will help the children in need at the orphanage, and help the orphanage build a loving, caring, fun-filled environment for the kids, like they all deserve. Because, every child has the right to learn, love, and grow healthy, happily.

Nethybaa Mivareh by Malaka Ali

Hama viyasves visnaa numelaa enme faharaku

Hama nubalaa ulhevey gothakah komme dhuvahaku

Ulhey thanugaa alhaa numelaa kuraahaa kamaku

Ulheyney hithah naaraa mithanugai ehen bayaku

Heekurey thimaaee mifadha nei ehen meehaku

Heeveyey nuves vaaney mithanugai hindhu kolhaku

Welcome!

This blog has been created by the Institute of Governance & Development and Democracy House to help all the participants who have completed or/are currently enrolled into the Youth Leadership Program be updated and keep in touch with each other, as well as the Institute.

We will be featuring some of your work, including essays, poems, pictures, videos and other art that are relevant. So feel free to submit anything to have to the following email;

youthleadership.mv@gmail.com

Stay tuned to any news or updates! Keep in touch!