Seedlings 2009

By 2009, the seven resorts participating in the initial pilot phase included 26 children receiving the programme’s benefits for a period of two years.

Due to the project’s success we are now expanding the initiative in 2010 to reach an estimated 60 children supported by scholarship and mentorship.
 

Success in the Maldives

A good example of the positive impact Banyan Tree seeks to facilitate through Seedlings is Ms Mariyam Saajidha, supported by Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru since 2007. Her father is a fisherman, and because she lives on Male where the rent is relatively high, Saajidha’s family struggled to afford her continued education, and could not afford additional tuition which resulted in very low scores (30 to 40%) in each of her 8th grade classes. Seedlings provided a mentor, Banyan Tree’s Ms Aishath Rifsheen who spends at least one hour every week with Saajidha, to complement the additional hour with a tutor.

Now averaging 80-90% in her classes, Saajidha herself said, “Because of Seedlings, I have improved my grades.” She went on to score very highly in her 2009 ‘O’ level exams and now will be attending ‘A’ level college in Male. As this opportunity is normally reserved only for the country’s brightest students, securing one of such extremely limited places is a very significant achievement.
 

Key Results

In 2008, the Seedlings program included a total of 24 students in 7 locations. By 2009, the seven properties participating in the initial program had expanded to include a total of 26 children receiving the program's benefits for a period of two years. Following is a breakdown of the intake into the Seedlings program for 2009.

Due to the project's success we are now expanding the initiative in 2010 to reach an estimated 60 children supported by scholarship and mentorship.