New 7 Wonders Campaign for Maldives Carried Out in Kolamafushi, In Collaboration with SKY

The first collaborative event of Society for Kolamafushi Youth (SKY) and CHOCO has been undertaken in GA Kolamafushi on 27 November 2009. The event started with a children’s special afternoon held in Kolamafushi Playground aiming to aware the public on the rapidly spreading virus, swine flu. Inadition, SKY and CHOCO executed a special campaign to vote for Maldives as a new wonder of nature, since Maldives has been nominated on the top 28 destinations all around the globe. 

The event continued at night on eid-special music show again in the Kolamafushi Playground. SKY and CHOCO continued to gather votes for Maldives along with local music blended with dramas and other amusing activities.

This is the first collaborative event by SKY and CHOCO. CHOCO is seeking new opportunities to work with such active NGOs in the province and in the Maldives. Speaking during the show, founder member of CHOCO said, “it may be the first event in collaboration with SKY, but this is not the last, because in the future we will bring our strengths together and bring more colorful events to the communities.” 

More than 500 votes were casted for Maldives during the vote for Maldives event. It is a relatively huge support to the campaign from a population of around 1500. CHOCO along with SKY is extremely happy for the support generated from the public for the campaign. 

 
People of Kolamafushi and SKY members were generously kind and provided a warm welcome to visising CHOCO team. CHOCO wishes to thank members of SKY and people of Kolamafushi in general for the warm hospitality and support for the activities.

Maavadiya Expo Concluded With Smiles on Faces

Maavadiya Career Expo was concluded successfully last night at Aboobakuru School, Thinadhoo. Maavadiya Career Expo was a job and education fair directed at youth, organized by CHOCO and sponsored by STO (main sponsor) and Dhiraagu (co-sponsor). The expo was held at the main hall of Thinadhoo Aboobakuru School from 24th November to 25th November 2009. Everyday 2 sessions was held – from 4-6pm and 8-11pm.
hairperson of CHOCO states that the objective of the event is to connect the young people with the education and job providers of the Maldives and to let the job and education providers to know about the skills and interests of the youth. 

 There were 24 stalls in the expo, ranging from large corporate, resorts, private companies, foreign and Maldivian colleges and Maldivian educational institutions. Furthermore, several local NGOs also participated in the event to give information about the opportunities for youth in programs they run. In addition, Thinadhoo Reigional hospital also had a stall to give awareness information about the sudden outbreak of swine flu in the Maldives and ways to prevent from it. 

 Participants expressed their overall pleasure with regard to the execution of the event. Evaluation from the participants indicate that more than 40% of the participants are extremely happy with the expo overall, and around 50% of the participants were considerably happy. The main concern for participants, as well as the visitors, was that the location of the event was a little too remote. 

The expo was visited by a considerable number of people, unofficial figure ranging above 2000 visitors in total. Visitors also expressed their overall pleasure with regard to the event. The information content and overall organization of the event was most desired aspects by the visitors to the expo. These include hundreds of participants from Kolamafushi and Hoadehdhoo. CHOCO wishses to thank Huvadhoo Association for National Development (HAND), for their corporation with regard to assistance in hospitality provided for the group from Kolamafushi. 

CHOCO wishes to thank everyone who helped in carrying out this expo, this successfully in such a magnitude. Efforts of members of CHOCO and hard-working volunteers deserve a notable mention. Thinadhoo MP, Mohamed Gasam, Upper South Province Office, Thinadhoo Aboobakuru School has given lot of assistance during the course of the program at various stages and hence CHOCO thanks all these parties. CHOCO would also like to thank assistance from main sponsor, STO, co-sponsor, Dhiraagu, and media partners, MNBC and Haveeru.

Maavadiya Career Expo Unveiled

Maavadiya Career Expo was unveiled today at 4pm at Aboobakuru School today. A small ceremony was held, and it was opened by Upper South Province Education Unit’s Superintendent of Education Mohamed Shakeel. The ceremony was attended by several distinguished members from the public, in addition to the participants and several visitors from the public. 

There were 24 stalls in the expo, ranging from stalls giving information about education and job and career opportunities in various industries. The expo was participated by large corporates of Maldives, colleges and educational institutions from the Maldives, resorts, government institutions and some NGOs active in Huvadhoo Atoll. 

The opening session was attended by around 300 poeple. Visitors and participants expressed their overall satisfaction with regard to the overall expo arrangements.

Maavadiya Career Expo Updates

Maavadiya Career Expo is being set to start on 24th November 2009. CHOCO is pleased to inform the participation by many organisations who well regard their community responsiblity.

Many educational institutions such as Maldives College of Higher Education, Villa College, Mandhu Learning Centre, Focus Education Centre, Boch Placement (represents many overseas colleges and universities), IBS has committed to participate. villa Foundation, Media Training Centre of MNBC and Fitness Academy of Male' Fitness Club would bring in a different and a diverse range of instititions to the expo. Among employers who have committed to showcase the career opportunities available in their organisations include State Trading Organisation (STO), Dhiraagu, Allied Insurance, Raas Maldives and Maldives Police Service. Among resorts which participate include Robinson Club in Huvadhoo Atoll and White Sand Beach Resort and Spa. Maldives National Career Guidance Centre will also be present and several NGOs from Huvadhoo Atoll and Zone 7 Stadium will also have stalls in the expo. In addition, fishermen of Thinadhoo will put forward a stall to showcase the hard works in fishery indistry.

CHOCO informs that large crowds from various islands are willing to attend the expo during the two days. CHOCO is trying to arrange transport for the desired crowds who would like to attend.

CHOCO hopes that a huge support will be gained from Thinadhoo itself. CHOCO urges every youth of the region to make use of this opportunity learn more about careers and opportunities available in the country.

Maavadiya Career Expo on High Gear

Preparations for Maavadiya Career Expo are being carried out at a very rapid rate, according to the organisers. The event coordinators from CHOCO has been seeking participants and sponsors for the program, and is satisfied with the positive response from the major companies and educational institutions in the Maldives. Maavadiya Career Expo would run in G.Dh. Thinadhoo on November 24th and 25th.

As of yesterday Boch Placement Centre, Focus Education Centre, Maldives College of Higher Education, Alila Villa Hadaha Resort, White Sand Beach Resort, Mandhu Learning Centre, Dhiraagu, Male’ Fitness Club and Job Centre and Career Guidance Unit of Ministry of Human Resources, Youth and Sports and TVET has confirmed their participation. In addition, many fishing vessels have integrated to form a stall showing the opportunities in the primary fisheries industry. Several other parties have expressed their desire to participate and organisers are expecting a confirmation anytime. Haveeru Online will be the official media partner of the program. Furthermore, it will be covered by many other media outlets.

Organisers from CHOCO hopes that even further participants will participate in the event, as the benefits from the bandwagon effect will be realised as the network of participants grow. It is expected that many potential participants will confirm their stalls in the next couple of days as the deadline for participation and sponsorship is fast arising at 9 November 2009.

CHOCO informs that there are several benefits to be gained by employers and education providers by participating in the program. Connecting with the potential employees and informing them of the opportunities available in different industries and companies would be beneficial to both employment or education providers and visitors. Furthermore, building a successful relationship with the community is important for companies, especially companies which work in or near Huvadhoo Atoll. It is a part of social responsibility of any company.

CHOCO is very grateful to all the organisations that have confirmed their participation and expressed their interest to participate. CHOCO is working hard to bring in as many participants from different industries to show diverse career opportunities available in the Maldives.