The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) conducted a series of community engagement programmes for students and parents of Th. Guraidhoo School in June 2024, focusing on career guidance, child development and healthy parent-child communication.

The programme included a career guidance session for students from Grades 7 to 12, providing approximately 60 students with an opportunity to explore educational and career pathways and consider their interests and future goals. The session aimed to support students in making informed decisions as they progress through their education.

A separate session was conducted for approximately 30 parents, focusing on developmental milestones and healthy communication strategies. The session provided parents with information to help them better understand children’s developmental needs and strengthen communication within the family.

The sessions were facilitated by Aminath Samha, Mariyam Neeris, Zeenath Shakir and Mohamed Nimaal, bringing together academic expertise and community-focused learning to address topics relevant to students and families.

The engagement programme reflects FHS’s commitment to extending health and educational knowledge beyond the university and responding to the needs of local communities. By working directly with students and parents, the initiative promoted greater awareness of educational pathways, child development and strategies that can support children’s emotional and developmental wellbeing.

The programme also provided an opportunity to strengthen connections between the university and the school community, demonstrating the value of collaboration in promoting positive youth development and family wellbeing.

The initiative contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through its focus on developmental and family wellbeing, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through career guidance and educational support, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through community and institutional collaboration.