The Muhyiddin Scouts are dedicated to protecting the vibrant corals off the coast of Vilimalé, Maldives. For UNICEF, the project is a shining example of the pivotal role young people play in the fight against climate change impacts.

⚠How the 'coral kids' are taking climate action
On a quiet sandy beach in Vilimalé, Maldives, a short ferry ride away from the bustling capital of Malé, a group of teenage girls and boys called the Muhyiddin Scouts strap on snorkel gear and head out into an aquamarine sea to check on some corals.
They measure growth and count fish and make other underwater observations during this weekly swim offshore, an effort that began in 2019 to chart and attempt to undo some of the local damage caused by climate change.
When Malsa, 14, joined the Scouts in 2021, she did not know how to swim and was fearful of the ocean. "Through this project, I have learned how to swim, how to count the fishes, and I have learned how to embrace our coral reefs and the importance of them," she says.
"I think because of this project, many of our parents have learned that these projects are really good and that we need to start similar projects. And many people have been inspired by us. And that was a really good accomplishment for me personally."

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