What? – Wake Up is a national campaign in the Maldives aimed at preventing drug abuse and promoting recovery from drug addiction.

Why? – As you read this, drug abuse is increasing in the Maldives

• Children as young as 9 and even 7 are starting to experiment with dangerous drugs
• The most popular drug in the Maldives – heroin – or brown sugar – is one of the most highly addictive and destructive drugs in the world.
• Drug addiction can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, economic status, or the family they belong to
• Every family is affected by drugs, either directly or indirectly – therefore it is in the interest of each and every one of us to take action.
• We are a small community and when one of us suffers, we all end up suffering.

Who? – Wake Up is spearheaded by the National Narcotics Control Bureau (NNCB), the NGO Journey, and UNICEF and sponsored by Dhiraagu. The concepts behind the Wake Up campaign were conceived by a group of 20 Maldivian youth aged between 15 – 22 years old.

Each and every Maldivian is invited to be part of the solution to the drug problem – to get informed, to understand, to listen, and to reach out.

IGNITE! Maldivian Youth Spark Drug Abuse Prevention

In June 2007, a group of 20 Maldivian Youth gathered for a 3-day participatory workshop at the UN Building to discuss the drug issue and to conceive the ideas behind the Wake Up Campaign – including the name, logo, TV, and print ideas. CONGRATULATIONS to these youth for being the driving spark behind Wake Up!

Special Thanks to Dhiraagu - our official Sponsor and Partner