Last year, on September 15, World Cleanup Day united 18 million people across 157 countries and territories for the biggest waste collection day in human history. A 36-hour green wave of clean-ups across the globe – beginning in New Zealand and travelling around the world before ending in Hawaii.
This year, Soneva, the world leading luxury resort operator, took part in World Cleanup Day on September 21 at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives.
Soneva Fushi worked in partnership with the Manta Trust, a UK charity that co-ordinates global research and conservation efforts around rays and their habitats; and Parley, the environmental organisation and global collaboration network known for their Adidas x Parley sportswear lines.
The event took place on the island of Eydhafushi from 8-10am local time. Five hundred students from 13 different schools participated in the coastal clean-up of their islands as part of the annual Manta Festival and bring the waste to Eydhafushi, where it was separated to different types of waste.
At the event, Soneva Fushi’s Eco Centro team led the waste separation with the 500 students. Ocean plastic was given to Parley, who will have it upcycled to clothing.
Soneva Jani, in the Noonu atoll, arranged a clean-up on the nearby Manadhoo island, where the resort team work worked with the Manadhoo council and schools.
World Cleanup Day began in Estonia, in 2008. Fifty-thousand people united to clean up the whole country in just five hours.
On that day, a global bottom-up civic movement was born and spread around the globe. This inspired people to follow suit with the same ambitious ‘one country, one-day’ formula.
Eleven years later, the idea has grown into a global movement with millions of volunteers and leaders. The simple act of cleaning has become a force that brings people and groups together, who would otherwise never dream of working towards the same goal.
World-leading luxury resort operator Soneva runs two resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.
In 1995, the award-winning luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi pairs Robinson Crusoe fantasy with intelligent luxury.
Sixty-two private villas with their own stretch of beach are hidden among dense foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef. Intuitive service is provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers.
Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, counting Saturn’s rings in the high-tech Observatory, the home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, five hundred wines to choose from, six different restaurants and countless destination dining options. In November 2015, Soneva launched a floating villa concept, Soneva in Aqua, a treasure trove children’s Den and a multi-purpose facility encompasses a glass gallery, boutique and studio where guests can learn the art of glass blowing.
If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: No news, no shoes. No pretensions either.
Opened in December 2016, Soneva Jani is Soneva’s newest property and the world-leading luxury hotel group’s second resort in the Maldives.
Soneva Jani is located on the island of Medhufaru within a 5.6 kilometre lagoon in the Noonu atoll, and has uninterrupted ocean views in all directions. The lagoon is 35 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport and one hour by speedboat from Soneva Fushi.
Meaning ‘wisdom’ in Sanskrit, Soneva Jani currently comprises 24 overwater villas and one island villa, with additional villas to be built in phase two. Five islands encircle the lagoon, each one with soft white sands and covered in rich tropical vegetation. Four of the five islands will remain untouched, making Soneva Jani the lowest density development in the Maldives. The overwater villas are spaced across the expansive lagoon, offering privacy and extensive views over the Maldives’ turquoise waters. The island villas will be tucked into the lush greenery, providing the ultimate privacy, and all within steps of the beach.
Soneva Jani’s main guest facilities are located at The Gathering, the heart of the overwater villas. This dramatic three story structure is home to the main dining outlets, in addition to the Soneva Spa, library, retail area and wine cellar. It is located next to the Maldives’ first overwater Observatory.
Facilities on the island include the overwater Cinema Paradiso, the Eco Centro Waste-to-Wealth centre, organic gardens, tennis courts, water sports champa and Zuhair’s Beach on a desert island in the lagoon.