Minister Announces Free Facilities to Support Civil Society Organisations
Civil society organisations to receive free facilities under new government support measures | Photo: Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Art
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, Ibrahim Waheed, has announced measures to ease operational challenges faced by civil society organisations, including the provision of free facilities for non-governmental organisations.
ސިވިލް ސޮސައިޓީ އެވޯޑް 2025 ހަފުލާގެ ތެރެއިން.. pic.twitter.com/ynjuAHsQEZ
— Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Art (@YouthGovMv) December 17, 2025advertisement
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The first floor of the Youth Hub building has been designated as an ‘NGO Working Space’ and will be made available free of charge. The initiative is intended to address the longstanding shortage of venues for meetings, forums, and organisational activities within the civil society sector.
Access to the facility will be limited to registered organisations that comply with regulatory requirements, under a policy framework currently under development. Minister Waheed highlighted previous state funding provided to 15 organisations for island-level projects, noting that implementation has been inconsistent. He urged these organisations to overcome delays and fulfil their commitments to ensure that the intended benefits reach the public.
The Civil Society Awards ceremony also recognised seven organisations for their contributions to national development. The Women Empowerment Association of Thinadhoo was honoured for its advocacy on rights, the Care Society for its work with persons with special needs, and the Thulhaadhoo Silver Shine Club for its educational initiatives.
Additional awards were presented to Shaairunge Vaadhee for cultural preservation, Clean Maldives for environmental stewardship, the Alzheimer’s Society of Maldives for health advocacy, and Girindhaa NGO for its efforts in drug prevention.
