Hydroponics Training Started in QAEC, Thinadhoo

A hydroponics training has been started in Thinadhoo, targeted for secondary school students, from 26th July 2011. The training is executed by Choco's Program Cordinator, Ibrahim Shiyam.

15 students from G.Dh. Atoll Education Centre has participated in the training program. The participants has shown enthusiasm towards hydroponics and environment, while the commitment to learn remains huge.The students will be expected to complete a project by the end of the training.

The training is conducted in the Green World of G.Dh. Atoll Education Centre (QAEC). The school posses a hydroponics system donated by the agriculture ministry. The practicals of the training is conducted at this system. The students will learn to prepare a system, and how to obtain yields from a hydroponics system. At this time lettuce will be grown in the system.

The trainer expects that the yield of the crop can be obtained before the end of Ramadan. The proceeds from any sale will be donated to the school by Choco.

Choco has already carried out a major hydroponics training program in Gemanafushi, in August 2010, where 74 participants, both youth and students, has been trained. In Gemanafushi a sample hydroponics system was built by Choco and was presented to Dhammaru Jamiyya of Gemanafushi. Course facilitator Ibrahim Shiyam was trained in Hanimaadhoo to become a licensed trainer, by Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, on a chance provided by Choco.

Workshop on Sustainability and Individual Responsibility Completed in Thinadhoo and Kolamafushi

The workshop on Sustainability and Individual Responsibility (WSIR) has successfully been carried out in both G.Dh. Thinadhoo and G.A. Kolamafushi. Two workshops, each spanning for one week, was completed in each island.

The WSIR in Thinadhoo started on 17th July 2011 and was completed on 22nd July 2011. The workshop was carried out in Thinadhoo Aabaadhee Marukaz. Choco would like to thank Thinadhoo Island Council and its secretariat and National Office of Upper South Province for kind assistance rendered. A total of 35 students and 15 youth participated and gained the certificate of completion.

The workshop in Kolamafushi was held from 23rd July to 29th July 2011. A total of 33 students and 1 youth participated and gained certificates. The workshop in Kolamafushi was held in collaboration with Society for Kolamafushi Youth (SKY).

Choco expects the participants to deliver the message to other members of the public towards the self responsibility in preserving the environment.

The workshop was facilitated by a masters' student of environment at the Central European University, Ms Aminath Afrah Rasheed. Choco sends heartfelt gratitude to the facilitator for taking the time and effort in executing such an important workshop.

The workshop is a part of Choco's vision towards "Thinadhoo - The Garden Island". 

Workshop on Sustainability and Individual Responsibility

Choco is seeking participants for the workshop on Sustainability and Individual Responsibility, which is scheduled to start on 17th July 2011 in Thinadhoo.

The workshop on Sustainability and Individual Responsibility is a 6 day workshop to facilitate rediscovery of connections to the natural world, as both source and sink for our material consumption; to highlight the concept of individual responsibility; and to identify opportunities for making sustainable choices in our daily lives.

Two workshops are planned for July 2011 - one in G.Dh. Thinadhoo and one in G.A Kolamafushi. The workshop in Thinadhoo will run from 17-22 July 2011. There are limited seats and only 30 participants will be enrolled - 20 secondary and higher secondary students and 10 youth. Youth is enrolled in order to train volunteers to continue the program.
To get enrolled, please shortlist your name with Jinah (999 9546) or Hassaan (790 0054), before 10 July 2011.

The Workshop is organised by Choco and it will be facilitated by Ms. Aminath Afrah Rasheed, a student of Masters in Environmental Studies at the Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.

The need for this kind of a workshop has arisen because the responsibility to act upon environmental issues has been shifted to the government or society in general and we usually forget about what we can do individually to protect our environment. To facilitate environmental changes, we need to establish connections that our daily actions and the impact they have on environment. The purpose of this workshop is to increase awareness of students and youth regarding individual responsibility for our own environment.

The workshop will aim to enable participants to discover the lessons themselves (i.e. learning by doing). To this end, three groups of participants will:

1. Audit inputs and outputs of a typical participant’s daily activities with regard to three different areas: Food, Water, and Energy. This will include amounts (e.g. kg/litres/kWh), price and people involved.
2. Trace the inputs and outputs to their source/ sink in nature including the routes taken
3. Identify potential impacts (including secondary, long-term and cumulative impacts) throughout the lifecycle, from source to sink, on nature and humans
4. Compare their results to global averages (ecological footprint data will be provided)
5. Discuss whether the social, environmental and economic impacts of their activities warrant a change in behaviour and if so, suggest possible actions.

This will be done over the duration of the workshop, with close guidance from workshop facilitators. An example of an audit will be presented on the first day to introduce the activity and possible methods for carrying out an audit. The programme (outlined below) for the subsequent days will include group work on this main project with a facilitator (1 hour), and activities to introduce different concepts of sustainability (1 hour). The workshop is expected to run for 3 hours on Day 1 and 6, and 2 hours on Day 2, 3, 4 and 5.

	Activities	Aims	Method of Delivery
Day 1	Back to the Future	Demonstrate that everything ultimately comes from nature and returns to nature	Activity involving an everyday object (materials used, sources, disposal)
	One Day Footprint	Introduce ways in which our daily lives are connected to nature	Presentation (possibly with short film)
		Demonstrate possible approach to the main group project
	Introduction to Group Project	Explain aims and methods for conducting the main group project	Presentation
Day 2	Meehakaai Gas	Introduction to some concepts of sustainability	Analysis of sustainability lessons in the children’s story
	Invaluable / Not Valuable	Introduce the concept of value in different contexts (i.e. Monetary VS non-monetary value)	Activity comparing market price and non-price value of objects identified by participants as important to them
Day 3	Local Knowledge	Explore extent and importance of local knowledge	Game
	Beyond Island Shores	Contrast local and global challenges and circumstances	Photos, Video Clips, Case Studies (highlighting resource availability and scarcity, displacement of environmental problems to poor communities, etc)
		Foster appreciation of our unique blessing and fragilities, and consequent obligations
Day 4	Tragedy of Commons	Introduce the concepts of tragedy of commons, carrying capacities and tipping points	Game
Day 5	Diversity and Resilience	Show that diversity (in ecological and social context) reduces risk of collapse	Game/ Case study [To Be Confirmed]
	Individual Social Responsibility	Highlight individual obligations towards fellow humans and nature	[To Be Confirmed]
Day 6	Group Presentations and Discussion	Share findings of the three groups	Presentations and Discussions
	Concepts of Sustainability	Review lessons from the workshop	Open Discussion
	Wrap Up	Identify and commit to next steps	Set quantitative targets to reduce negative impacts / pledges Decide on realistic follow-up mechanism

The program is tentatively scheduled to be held in Aabaadhee Marukaz in Thinadhoo.

Kolamafushi workshop is planned incorporation with Society for Kolamafushi Youth (SKY) and will be held from 24 - 29 July 2011.

For more infor and enrollment (before 10 July 2011), contact,

• Jinah (999 9546) 
• Hassaan (790 0054)

Extraordinary General Meeting Call and ExCo Elections

CHOCO has called up an extraordinary general meeting to elect the new Executive Committee (ExCo) for the next two years. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 16:30 of Friday, 8 July 2011, in Thinadhoo Youth Centre (Zone 7 Stadium). All members are strongly encouraged to attend and cast their vote.


Further, CHOCO has announced to apply for ExCo posts for its members. There are 9 posts in the ExCo. Only Subscribing members can apply to the posts of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson - Admin, Deputy Chairperson - Finance, and General Secretary and Public Relations Cordinator. Both Subscribing and Voluntary Members can apply to the posts of Program Directorship. There is a program director for each of the objective of CHOCO.

The new structure of the ExCo marks a significant change passed by the AGM of 2011.

The current ExCo was elected on 20th June 2009 for a term of two years. The new ExCo is expected to assume office on 9th July 2011.



Please visit the link to view the notices,

1- Notice of the EGM
2- Announcement for ExCo Election and application

CHOCO Annual General Meeting 2011 Held

CHOCO has held the AGM 2011 last night, 16 June 2011, at 20:30 in Thinadhoo Youth Centre. The members passed the Annual Report of 2010 and passed a number of amendments to the Constitution of CHOCO.

The amendments passed include reduction of the Executive Committee from 15 members to 9 members. Some responsibilities of ExCo members are also defined more specifically in the amendments. Additional amendments include some administrative changes.

To Read minutes and passed reforms please scroll below,

 To view and read please visit the links below,

Minutes of AGM2011

Amendments to the Constitution

CHOCO Revised Constitution

Annual General Meeting 2011

2011 Annual General Meeting of Choco is scheduled to be held in Zone 7 Stadium (G.Dh. Thinadhoo) at 20:30 on 16 June 2011. All members are invited to attend. Those unable to attend are advised to assign proxies. Deadline for assigning proxies is 14 June 2011.

Download Notice and Agenda

CHOCO Installs the First Solar Street Light in Thinadhoo

CHOCO has installed the first solar street light in Thinadhoo today, 5 June 2011. It was installed to create awareness for renewable energy and foster faith in renewable energy among people. Furthermore, one of its intention is to mark the World Environment Day 2011.

The first solar street light, is first of many more to come, senior members CHOCO explained. CHOCO is about to embark on a major project will seek to change all street lights of Thinadhoo to solar powered lights. Furthermore, it is also a part of the Garden Island Vision.

The light was installed near the jetty area of Thinadhoo, around the corner of Dhiraagu Thinadhoo.

The light was donated and installed for CHCOO by a generous local company, C-Mos Pvt Ltd.

Survey Process of Huvadhoo Master Plan Completed

Survey process of Huvadhoo Master Plan is now fully completed. The data feeding and report writing processes will be commenced in the next week.

Although CHOCO faced numerous difficulties from newly elected island councils, citing unreasonable and unfounded reasons. Some councils thought that CHOCO was seeking some funds through the survey and hence thought that they will execute such a survey and get some funding for themselves. However such ignorance was overtaken through repeated dialogue. Areas where problems from the councils arose include Gahdhoo, Kanduhulhudhoo and Madaveli. Support from G.Dh. Atoll Council, especially the president, is also extremely limited.

CHOCO would like to acknowledge the help of many of the of the Councils and local NGOs and islanders for their help through out the survey process.

The data feeding is expected to be completed by June 2011 and an exposure draft of the report is scheduled to be out by mid July 2011. The final report will be handed over to UNDP and other stakeholders and published by the end of July 2011.

Huvadhoo Masterplan Project seeks to write a developmental plan for Huvadhoo Atoll/Region. The project is funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP).