In the Maldives, young people recently took to kayaks to protest against land reclamation affecting protected mangrove wetlands within a UNESCO biosphere reserve. They spray-painted the word ‘ECOCIDE’ on reclaimed areas as a sign of defiance.
The group, Project ThimaaVeshi, focuses on addressing coastal erosion, plastic pollution, and ecosystem damage. In Addu City, these activists document the effects of overdevelopment on wetlands and reefs, while in the capital, Male, others tackle plastic waste in public spaces.
A demonstrator holds a sign as part of Project ThimaaVeshi, a youth-led protest against reclamation projects damaging mangroves in Addu City, Maldives, June 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sophia Nasif)
Groups often team up with surfers for cleanups, clearing fishing lines from coral reefs and gathering discarded bottles. They educate youth about their right to a clean environment, emphasizing climate change and environmental damage as current and urgent issues.
Despite the Maldives promoting itself as a champion against climate change, activists argue that protective measures are slow. Experts predict that rising sea levels may render 80% of the nation uninhabitable within 50 years.
Youth Driven Motivation
Driven by hope, Yameen Maumoon and Mishal Mushahid started Project ThimaaVeshi as students in Addu City. As graduates, their activism evolved into a registered nonprofit involving more friends in the cause.
In Male and Hulhumale, Ripple, another youth group, emerged from friends noticing trash accumulation. Through TikTok, their cleanup efforts gained traction, leading to weekly campaigns against plastic pollution.
Ahmed Akif Ali, of the youth group Ripple, shows a plastic bottle found during a cleanup with Aloha Ufaa Surf Club off Hulhumale, Maldives, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sophia Nasif)
Barnacles, another youth organization, concentrates on climate education and leadership. Amidst discussions of climate emergency, the groups aim for communal environmental action.
Criticism and Perseverance
The age of these activists has attracted remarks equating youth with naivety. Critics, including government officials, question the impact of their efforts. Despite these challenges, activists remain committed to shaping a generation aware of their rights and responsibilities.
Yania Hussain Ishan, a co-founder of Barnacles, emphasizes the importance of defending the homeland for future generations.
“We are deciding what kind of ancestors we will be. We are defending our home…” Ishan stated.
Despite facing skepticism, these youth groups push forward, believing in the significance of their actions for a better future.
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