Toni the Maldive Lady
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Narcotics Control Board

The Young Offenders at Himmafushi North Male Atoll

In my very early days in the Maldives, the word drugs was never heard. How and when it started I don't know. But my deep involvement with S.H.E  (Society Health Education) I met with Lt. Col.Abdul Shakoor Abdulla who headed this Board, and he spoke in depth about  this very sad drug situation that had arrived in the the Maldives. He suggested I might like to visit them.

I arrived at the small island of Himmafushi which is on the edge of north Male Atoll, not far from Resort islands which had bobbed up recently Kanifinolhu being one. The entrance to what seemed like a big prison were two enormous gates heavily locked. A very pleasing gentleman was my guide. Inside a very large spacious area. Off this a number of small rooms, where the lads were spread out. Before meeting them, i sat under a shady tree, and had a soft drink.
 
There was housing a little way away for 20 girls.  The boys totally separate. My guide explained the procedure.
When offenders were picked up, mostly in Male, they would be brought to Himmafushi, and would stay there for whatever length of time was seemed necessary. The trouble then, was there was almost no professional counseling , training is needed for this huge problem and it was very very early days and not available in Male.


When I was there the first time, the offender would come out, and almost always sadly offend again. Back up of parents, family is very important. This was new and hard for parents to understand what had happened to their loved ones.

I visited every room, they all had small tasks to do. A table tennis table, but little to no amusements or books.
Some of them I would recognise, and they me!  Hello Tornie! they would say.. I had to think fast where I had seen them  usually a waiter  at one of the Resorts. They just didn't want me to leave. I signed the visitors book, and left with a very sad heart. Back home I sent a large consignment of BOOKS, Jigsaw Puzzles, Monopoly, and similar games.for the girls as well.


My second and third time happier. Each room I would go into they had made a small Maldivian gift for me!
On my last visit, performed an hour long show for me. Dancing, singing, it was so wonderful and desperately moving.
Male were starting to send people for counseling, and although this dreadful problem was alas rapidly growing, there was an understanding as to counsel and deal with this situation.

I will leave with you now with perhaps the most moving of all MY YOUNG OFFENDERS gifts they made and gave to me.
Picture
I will treasure this till the day I go through those Pearly Gates.

The Maldive Islands


Ariyadhoo, Himithi, Mini Mas,
Gali & Maamigili
Fuah Mulaku

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL SCHOOL
Gan and Feydhoo
Hanimadhoo & Uteemu
Ihuru
Kuramathi
Kurumba
Laamu  Atoll
Lhaviyani
Niyama - Dhaalu Atoll
Rashdoo & Noonu Atoll
Villingili

Holiday Of A Life Time:
Maldives, Sri Lanka & Dubai

New


SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION - LETTER FROM BENEDICTA

MY ISLAND STORY

On My Way To Happy Days

Passenger Flying Log Book

My Very Good Looking Father

Through a Zanzibar Doorway

Lion Sands

Cape Town

A Night At The London Zoo

Wild Reef Child

Ashley

Flying With Hunting Clan

Love At First Sight

The Queen Mother

Romy Has a Surprise!

GEORGE

My Talk 2018

My Flying Diary

The Maldive Lady, by Jo Foley

LiveWire: First Lady of Leisure

Kunfunadhoo

The Lady In The Loo

First Round The World Flight

Tehran

PHINDA

Rat Story

Visha & Maya

Saint Helena

A Flight of a Lifetime

Diving Bangaram Island
Shark Circus
Richard Harley
Yusuff Moosa

I Dived To Victory
Memorable Muscat
You Must Not Wear Any Weights Or Life Jacket


A Magic Boat Launches

Angkor, Cambodia

Champneys

Country Life

Crown of Thorns

Having A Whale Of A Time

​Hurlingham Club Magazine Summer 2016

Kenya

​KASHMIR 1959

Lady Rose

Love of Skiing

My Magic Beans

My Outstanding Award
My Sandbank
Museum of Mankind
My 86th Birthday
Classic Wings: My 87th Birthday
My 88th Birthday
Magic Yellow File
RACEHORSE
Seychelles
South Africa
The Haute Route
Thrills & Spills - Dhoni Mighili
Underwater Ireland
Welcome To Stanford Bridge
***WEST OF ZANZIBAR***

Helicopter Bride
SCHOOL / FLYING
World Travel Mart
My Adopted Maldivian Family
Life Threatening Thalassemia
Himmafushi - The Young Offenders
Villingilli Orphanage
The Tsunami
Commemorative Coins

1986 Commonwealth Games
Guest Speaker of the Canberra
My Cocktail
Love & Marriage in Sri Lanka


Picture
Flags
Picture

A Maldives Symphony -
My Swan Song:

- Velassaru & Kuramathi
-
Colombo

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