Youth Vision Coffee Table Book Presented to Speaker of Majlis

Today, young artists presented the ‘Youth Vision - Coffee Table Book’ to Hon. President Mohamed Nasheed, MP, Speaker of the People’s Majlis.  

The book is a collection of artwork from ‘Youth Vision – An Art Workshop’ conducted by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment and UNDP Maldives with support from the European Union and Ooredoo Maldives. Youth Vision is a virtual platform and safe space, providing conversations and guidance in creating art in order to help participants process the mental difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

49 youth from across different islands and atolls digitally connected with mentors who guided them to explore different themes such as peace and social cohesion, job security and other social issues, and apply their learnings to their own lives. Participants shared their experiences and diverse lived realities with each other. The mentors introduced them to different creative media, concepts and philosophies to help them complete their own piece of art.

Youth Vision Art Workshop concluded with a virtual art exhibit titled “Ekani Ekuga – An Exhibit by the Youth” that saw each participant showcase their art pieces. The ‘Youth Vision - Coffee Table Book’ is the curated work of these 49 Maldivian youth who were exploring intimate narratives during a time of exceptional uncertainty, and came together to produce some amazing works of art. 

As we move into the second year of the pandemic, the future looks brighter with vaccines rolling out and a light appearing at the end of a tunnel that has encompassed the world in a physically distant shadow since early 2020.

With this hope, our participants present the ‘Youth Vision – Coffee Table Book’ with the hope that youth voices and stories encompassed in their artwork will inspire policymaking and initiatives affecting young people.

Along with youth participants of the initiative, UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Akiko Fujii, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Youth were in attendance at the handover of the coffee table book. 

Find out more about the Youth Vision initiative at: ‘Youth Vision – An Art Workshop’ Concludes