President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced that the Hope Island rehabilitation project for at-risk youth exposed to criminal environments will be launched soon.
He made the announcement while speaking on the third episode of The Pulse podcast series.
Speaking on the podcast, the President highlighted factors that lead youth to commit crime and said the project addresses the root causes of crime rather than only its consequences. According to the President, these efforts include solving housing issues, creating income-generating opportunities for young people, and supporting small business development.
Hope Island will be developed on 15 hectares of reclaimed land in Uthuru Thila Falhu and is designed to accommodate up to 700 people. It aims to rehabilitate children by providing basic education, religious education, psychosocial intervention and therapy programmes as well as contact sport programmes. The centre will provide vocational training, sports facilities and healthcare services.
President Muizzu said funding for the project has taken time to secure, but proposals are currently being evaluated and implementation will begin soon. He said the government intends to complete the project during its current term.
The government has previously stated that children admitted to Hope Island will remain there until they turn 18, after which they will be required to serve for a period in either the Maldives Police Service or the Maldives National Defence Force.