Mohamed Hoodh Ibrahim ,
Please provide us with your views on the state of peace in the country you will represent at the One Young World Summit.
The Maldives is a small island nation in the vast Indian Ocean. A breathtakingly beautiful paradise on Earth that welcomes travellers far and wide with open arms. Expressing cordial relations with her neighbours and her friendship spreading from ancient China to the hallowed halls of Rome. Her people subsisting on environmentally-sustainable methods like pole and line seafaring and agrarian in livelihood. Sadly these values of community, harmony and tolerance are eroding away with the dash for modernization. Peace in the Maldives is epherameral for the young person. Issues such as gang violence, extremism and substance abuse has preyed on the young. Our society is an infant democracy that has divided itself by party lines. We have embraced democracy but we have a ways to go before we create safe spaces for young people to voice their diverse concerns. Lack of transparency in political finance and the lack of mechanisms that make elected representatives answerable have disillusioned the youth. Opportunities for self development outside academics are few and far between. Even with these challenges a considerable number of young leaders are working hand in hand with their peers to create a positive impact on the state of peace in the Maldives.
How do you think your work and/or activism contribute to countering violent extremism and a sustainable peace?
As a peacebuilder and youth advocate aided by my experience and knowledge from my various engagements with youth at national and international levels I have successfully led trainings and programmes to better capture the voice of my community, exchanging knowledge with my peers, and improving youth advocacy in the Maldives. One such milestone is the Maldives Youth Peace Security National Consultation that created a group of well trained young leaders. Young leaders that understand the need for peacebuilding and an inclusive society for sustainable peace. I have co-founded the Youth To Leaders Forum that continues to engage with Maldives presidents and cabinet ministers for youth participation in policy and decision-making. My work at JCI Maldives has revamped the Maldives Youth Advocacy Union which is positioned to increase the advocacy of youth concerns. I have worked in collaboration with the UN Maldives, Islamic University of Maldives and the National Counter Terrorism Center with stakeholders to highlight the moderate virtues of Islam that counter any call for violence. I have used my platform to focus on promoting education as a tool to prevent violent extremism and Human Rights based engagement in the education sector as a lasting solution for violent extremism.