President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has welcomed 343 young Maldivians and their families as the first recruits of the Maldives National Service programme began training.

The Maldives National Service programme is a flagship youth initiative designed to build a skilled and disciplined generation for national service.

The inaugural group departed on Wednesday for three months of intensive training in Lhaviyani Maafilaafushi.

In a message shared on X, President Dr Muizzu congratulated the participants and their families, noting that the batch was selected from 1,242 applicants and includes 64 females and 279 males aged 16 to 29 from 107 islands across the country.

According to the President, the programme is designed to foster national pride and Islamic values while preparing youth for future roles in community development and the Maldives’ security services. Participants will undergo training to strengthen discipline, practical skills, and civic responsibility, with emphasis on moral, mental, and physical well-being.

Launched as a cornerstone of the Administration’s youth policy, the National Service programme will be held annually from this year onwards, offering structured training and opportunities for education and civic engagement to empower Maldivian youth nationwide.