Volunteer Abroad in the Maldives

The Maldives are made up of 1,192 islands, but only 192 of them are inhabited. While many islands are used for resorts and other forms of tourism, there are also many that are occupied solely by locals. The Maldives are known for their crystal blue waters, lagoons, amazing coral reefs, and Muslim culture, but there is even more beyond the surface worth exploring.

Malé. This urbanized island is the capital of Maldives, and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, containing 35,000 people per square kilometer. Malé is home to nearly one third of the population of the entire country. Not surprisingly, Malé is also the financial and commercial capital of the country. With such a large portion of the population living in Malé, there are many opportunities to volunteer in community development and education.

Naifaru. Located in the Northern Maldives, Naifaru is 88 miles north of Malé. This island is expected to develop more in the next few years because of reclamation projects, which will create even more volunteer opportunities in community development. Naifaru is known for its smiling locals and densely populated streets and alleyways, which means interacting with local Maldivians will be a big part of volunteering in Naifaru. Since everything is within walking distance on the island, you’ll want to pack some comfortable walking shoes!

Noonu. The noonu atoll (a ring shaped coral reef that encloses a shallow lagoon), is a series of small islands that are protected because of the large coral reef that surrounds it. The capital island of Noonu is Manadhoo, which is thought to have been populated since the 4th century BC. This island is lush with wonderful volunteer placements because of its need for educational improvements, marine conservation, and further development in general.