Walking the Talk on sustainable lifestyle and education conducted by NATH in the Maldives.

NATH training for local communities to embrace sustainable tourism & hospitality practices for the world’s leading destination “Maldives”. In the year 2009, NATH took up a project and went to a remote local island of Thulhaadhoo, located in the Baa Atoll in the Rep. of Maldives. NATH selected 88 young adult aged ranging from 16 to 21 years for Housekeeping & Front office training ,so that they could find work in Luxury Resorts in the Maldives. The main idea was to help sustain the work force and increase employment opportunities for the local population. Upon the completion of my Housekeeping Course, all the 88 students were successfully employed at different Luxury Resorts in the Maldives. We used sustainable methods & resources during the training sessions. Challenges: With very limited resources to conduct proper classroom training and without any standard modern training equipment such as projector, audio/visual gadgets, the challenges NATH trainer faced were immense. Having to adapt and survive on the remote island and trying to get used to its environment for 12 months was the most challenging part of trainer's life.There were limited food supply from the capital island, Male', Trainer survived by consuming fish for all 4 square meals in a day by fishing on the beach. All these challenges gave NATH trainer an opportunity to understand strengths and weaknesses “survival of the fittest”. Sustainable Green Classroom Resources: We rented a local residential house for the practicum session for Housekeeping training; we use available plants and flowers to design bed covers and bed runners. The main reasons to share our knowledge and transferable skills to public sector in Maldives- was to alleviate the poverty gap in the Maldives, especially those living in the remote islands, where jobs are scarce on the local islands. We want to help the grass root level and to become successful international hoteliers so that they can contribute their skills to Luxury Resorts & Hotels and help circulate their economy. Upon the completion of NATH hotel operations programme, all trainees were successfully employed by various luxury resorts in the Maldives. We used sustainable methods & resources during the training sessions taken place in the remote island. For example, we rented a local residence for housekeeping training to clean rooms and decorated by using leaves and flowers plucked from the garden around the house. Island cafe was rented by NATH, Inc. so that trainees can practice food&beverage operation as well. Local authority and NATH, Inc. worked together to make the project possible and operated smoothly. Please contact NATH, Inc for more information.