A three member delegation representing Friends’ AID from Noon Kudafari visited the Manadhoo, the capital of Noonu Atoll and met the Atoll Chief Mr. Haleel, and discussed the activity calendar of Friends’ AID and the Atoll Chief was quite pleased to learn of its activities. Regarding the financial assistance, he admitted that he could not help liberally due to lack of budgets but on the other hand promised to help us as much as possible within his limits. Also, he was willing to send letters of recommendation to people who could help us in our activities. Touching on the harbor issue, he said that he has some information from the government but cannot reveal it till the official Atoll Development Committee meeting is over.

Friends’ AID also met up with the Principal Aneesul-Rahman and discussed about the ‘Training camp’ for untrained teachers. He promised to help us in this regard by sending the facilitators. The principal said he would arrange to relieve Sheikh Sameer, the Islam teacher of the school, who is also the licensed person to give religious sermons.

The Atoll hospital officials advised us to wait until the rainy season was over. Otherwise, the fumigation would be unprofitable. When Friends’ AID mooted the issue of differences in the prices of medicines with that sold elsewhere, they said they would look into the matter and get back to us as early as possible. Later in the day, Friends’ AID met with the Manager of the Bank of Maldives and discussed programmes of promoting Banking awareness in the island.

Editor’s note: The above mentioned article was to be posted on 29th February 2008, just after the event, but due to unseen difficulties it is being posted now. As a result of Friends’ AID initiative fumigation was carried on out. Sheikh Sameer, Islam teacher would be in Kudafari to deliver a sermon on 27th March 2008.