“The beauty of these small islands is a gift from nature and we have to maintain this. This land on this tiny island is not just for us. There may be many, many generations will come after us so we have to be responsible to deliver this as it is created by God.”
Abdulla Shujau, Island Council President, Maalhos
The Problem
The small coral islands of the Maldives are considered to be among the most beautiful locations on our planet. Their ecosystems have developed over thousands of years into some of the most complex reef systems in the world and while they seem fragile, they have withstood monsoons, tsunamis, storm surges and sea swells.
The island communities of the Maldives are the stewards of these precious natural habitats. For centuries, people and nature have flourished side-by-side but today, both are under threat from the scourge of plastic pollution and other uncontrolled waste streams.
In a nation with few municipal waste facilities, islands that cannot afford to have their waste transported off the island instead burn it in open fires to prevent it piling up and spilling into the ocean. The open burning of plastics leaves partially-burned trash and toxic ash that blows or leaks into the surrounding ocean. Toxic smoke is a health hazard to the community and the waste sites are a source of breeding for vermin and mosquitoes.
The Solution
Soneva Namoona NGO was founded to co-create, pilot and spread innovations that empower zero-waste communities across the Maldives. We address the social, policy and material obstacles to sustainable waste management which include a lack of recycling infrastructure; scarce SUP alternatives; insufficient or inadequate policies and capacities to support a zero waste future. Recognising the need for collective action, we work in partnership with Namoona island stakeholders to tackle uncontrolled waste streams.
Our innovations fall into three broad categories:
- Reduce: innovations in single-use plastic alternatives
- Recycle: innovations in waste processing, infrastructure and logistics
- Inspire: innovations in community empowerment and education
Our strategy is to co-create innovations in these areas that are lastingly beneficial at an island level and quickly scalable at a national level. Our vision is for each and every one of the Maldives unique island communities to once again thrive in harmony with their natural environment.
Our Origins
Soneva Namoona is a unique partnership that was initially launched in 2019 as a pilot project between luxury eco resort Soneva Fushi and three local islands – Maalhos, Dharavandhoo and Kihaadhoo.
At the first workshop in 2019, which was attended by local island leaders, government ministers and representatives of the President’s Office, our three partner islands pledged to introduce household segregation and create an ‘eco centro’ waste-to-wealth centre to sort, recycle, and reuse island waste.
Today, we use the same partnership model to work with 21 islands across three atolls. Our funding partners include Soneva and USAID.
How We Work
Services
Islands we work with
Meet the Team
Operational team
Director of Operations
Kash Izydorczyk
Kash ensures that our organizational strategy guides all our implementation and innovation. She oversees partnership developments and new opportunities; monitors communication, manages the team and finances; and as our education expert, leads the Fehi Madharusa (Green School) pilot programme.
Kash holds a Master’s in International Education and Development. She has wide experience of working with NGOs, and as a facilitator she has extensive experience of delivering inspiring and empowering workshops. Kash first arrived in the Maldives in 2010 as a volunteer teacher.
Inspire Manager
Azhoora Ahmed
Azhoora oversees all community engagement activities, including zero waste workshops, competitions, the Shore to Open Water Series, and so much more. She is also the President of Soneva Namoona NGO.
Azhoora holds a Masters in Tourism, Hotel and Event Management. She represented the Maldives in the 2002 Asian Games, held three female swimming national records, and received the Maldives Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year award. As an ocean lover, she embodies ocean stewardship.
Reduce Manager
Khady Hamid
Khady oversees our Reduce component, implementing initiatives connected to the promotion of alternatives to single-use plastics. She overseas Soneva Water operations, and leads household water-filter trials and reusable nappy trials, and is developing our latest business incubator initiative.
Khady holds a Master’s in Development Practices. She has extensive experience in project management, community engagement and most recently has worked as the Head of Solutions Mapping for the UNDP Maldives Accelerator Lab.
Recycle Manager
Gordon Jackson
Gordon heads our Recycle component and designed the Namoona Sustainable Waste Management Model and accompanying frameworks. He works with island councils to develop island-specific solutions, while consulting with atoll councils on technical and strategic systems that enable atolls to adopt sustainable waste management.
Gordon holds a Master’s in Engineering, and he has been innovating sustainable waste management practices in the Maldives since 2012.
Management Team
Director of Operations
Kash Izydorczyk
Kash ensures that our organizational strategy guides all our implementation and innovation. She oversees partnership developments and new opportunities; monitors communication, manages the team and finances; and as our education expert, leads the Fehi Madharusa (Green School) pilot programme.
Kash holds a Master’s in International Education and Development. She has wide experience of working with NGOs, and as a facilitator she has extensive experience of delivering inspiring and empowering workshops. Kash first arrived in the Maldives in 2010 as a volunteer teacher.
Inspire Manager
Azhoora Ahmed
Azhoora oversees all community engagement activities, including zero waste workshops, competitions, the Shore to Open Water Series, and so much more. She is also the President of Soneva Namoona NGO.
Azhoora holds a Masters in Tourism, Hotel and Event Management. She represented the Maldives in the 2002 Asian Games, held three female swimming national records, and received the Maldives Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year award. As an ocean lover, she embodies ocean stewardship.
Reduce Manager
Khady Hamid
Khady oversees our Reduce component, implementing initiatives connected to the promotion of alternatives to single-use plastics. She overseas Soneva Water operations, and leads household water-filter trials and reusable nappy trials, and is developing our latest business incubator initiative.
Khady holds a Master’s in Development Practices. She has extensive experience in project management, community engagement and most recently has worked as the Head of Solutions Mapping for the UNDP Maldives Accelerator Lab.
Recycle Manager
Gordon Jackson
Gordon heads our Recycle component and designed the Namoona Sustainable Waste Management Model and accompanying frameworks. He works with island councils to develop island-specific solutions, while consulting with atoll councils on technical and strategic systems that enable atolls to adopt sustainable waste management.
Gordon holds a Master’s in Engineering, and he has been innovating sustainable waste management practices in the Maldives since 2012.