UNICEF's Positive Parenting Programme, Beleniveriyaa, Shaping the Future of Maldives

The Maldives, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) grappling with numerous challenges, is committed to ensuring the rights and well-being of its future generation. With a child population of approximately 128,635 (about 25% of the total population), Maldives faces unique challenges related to child well-being and development. Despite its status as an upper-middle-income nation, the Maldives grapples with the challenges of inequalities, vulnerabilities among children, impacts of climate change, and inefficiencies in social service delivery. This has led to heightened mental health issues, disruptions in education, a rise in violence, and environmental degradation, emphasizing the critical importance of addressing climate change.

Amidst all the challenges, UNICEF Maldives stands out with steadfast dedication, to safeguard the children's rights and promote their overall development. Through a focus on education, healthcare, child protection, and social inclusivity, UNICEF Maldives is implementing 8 Flagship ProgrammesThe flagships are designed to create a Maldives fit for children and children fit for Maldives. The 8 Flagships Programs includes Beleniveriyaa; Positive Parenting, Transforming Education, Kihineh; Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Climate Smart and Resilient Actions, IBAMA; Caring Island Communities, Rakkaatheri; Preventing Violence Against Children, Kaigen Hingamaa; Promoting Health and NutritionDeveloping & Engaging Young People.

These initiatives aim to promote the survival, development, and well-being of all children, regardless of where they live or their level of income. Additionally, they aim to empower children to achieve their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional developmental milestones, live with hope and dignity, engage actively, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development and sustainability. 

One of the significant Flagships of this program is the Positive Parenting Programme, “Beleniveriyaa”. The Beleniveriyaa Programme is designed to support parents and caregivers, providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors to offer age-appropriate and culturally responsive care. Implemented within the evolving family structure of the Maldives, the programme addresses the challenges faced by families in balancing modern-day demands with traditional family roles. This includes maintaining livelihoods while ensuring the provision of a safe, loving, and supportive environment for children, as well as fulfilling their rights to health, care, education, and recreation.

Parenting in the Maldives, like in many parts of the world, faces complexities due to various factors such as evolving cultural norms, shifting family dynamics, dual-working parents, limited childcare options, economic shifts, technological advancements, globalization, and environmental concerns. These factors shape the parental approaches to child-care, influencing aspects like education and lifestyle decisions. Consequently, these challenges make youth more vulnerable to issues like drug abuse, crime, gang involvement, and societal unrest. Despite the crucial need for early stimulation and nurturing care, there's a lack of comprehensive parenting programs, leaving families without adequate guidance and support.

Parenting in the Maldives, like in many parts of the world, faces complexities due to various factors such as evolving cultural norms, shifting family dynamics, dual-working parents, limited childcare options, economic shifts, technological advancements, globalization, and environmental concerns. These factors shape the parental approaches to child-care, influencing aspects like education and lifestyle decisions. Consequently, these challenges make youth more vulnerable to issues like drug abuse, crime, gang involvement, and societal unrest. Despite the crucial need for early stimulation and nurturing care, there's a lack of comprehensive parenting programs, leaving families without adequate guidance and support.

The island-based Social and Behavior Change Parenting Programme aims to address pressing needs for enhanced positive parenting practices in the Maldives. Through collaboration with diverse stakeholders such as community health workers, social workers, teachers, IBAMA (an integrated safety net for the vulnerable) members, Women’s Development Committees, neighborhood police, and civil society organizations, the program seeks to raise awareness about effective parenting. It also endeavors to equip parents and caregivers with essential knowledge and skills while establishing a supportive network for age-appropriate and responsive parenting. Central to its objectives are advocating for age-appropriate parenting policies, developing comprehensive intervention packages, and providing tools to facilitate the implementation of the Positive Parenting Programme. Through evidence-based approaches, the initiative strives to foster healthier family dynamics and contribute to the overall well-being of children and communities across the islands.

The next steps in the rollout of the Beleniveriyaa flagship programme is validating and finalizing the parenting modules developed for parents of different age groups with implementing partners including the Government, led by the Ministry of Education, civil society, young people and other relevant partners. 

Following the finalization of a standardized set of modules which aim to equip parents with knowledge skills and tools on positive parenting, the next phase of this programme will focus on training facilitators from all islands across Maldives to deliver this content to parents. 

Through these collaborative efforts, the UN Maldives strives to offer extensive support to children and families throughout the nation. The Positive Parenting programme- Beleniveriyaa, endeavors to cultivate positive parenting approaches, fostering an environment where children can flourish. By highlighting the impact of parental role modeling, the program encourages the practice of virtues such as patience, kindness, honesty, and integrity, all fundamental for the holistic development of children