Thanzy, Strong Advocate for Save the Natural Beach of Villimale’

“I’ve made so many memories on this beach. This is where my husband and I came to celebrate our wedding, it is where so many of my nieces and nephews had their first swim and this is where we even decided to form our NGO.”

Thanzy is the proud co-founder of Save the Beach, and she has been fighting steadfastly in a never-ending battle to preserve the fleeting beauty of our country.

“After the various developments that began in Villingili in the 90s, there were only three stretches of beach left from the natural shoreline of the island,” Thanzy explained.

“These three beaches here are now the last natural beaches left in the Greater Male’ area that are untouched by the hands of industrialization, and we as Maldivians should have access to the beauty of our own natural habitats and we should feel at home in it.”

As the construction of the ‘Thilamale’ Bridge commenced in the South-West coast of Villingili, Male’ City Council made the executive decision earlier this year to move the existing fiber boatyard from the South-West BBQ Beach to the Eastern beach area.

Thanzy expressed that, “it was never acceptable for the work to be carried out on the South-West beach either and now because of it, that beach is currently trashed and destroyed. We cannot let this happen to another beach and we must stop it before irreversible damage is done once again.”

At present, the Male’ City Council has recently decided to halt new work from being done at the Eastern beach and they stated that any ongoing fiber work would be concluded by the end of July.

The Council had requested the Planning Ministry to find permanent solutions, and it is crucial that we ensure that they follow through on this decision in order to ensure the safety and protection of our environment and our own wellbeing.

“We will keep close watch of the situation and meet authorities to ensure the current plans to move the fiber boats from the east beach will in fact be done,” Thanzy assured.

Save the Beach started in 2008 as a youth movement to clean and protect the beaches and reefs of Villingili, and they have been most recently working on conserving the only remaining natural coastline in the area from being developed into a fiberglass boatyard.

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– Photostories in Partnership with Save the Beach Maldives