UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, Ms. Jean Gough has paid a courtesy call on First Lady, Fazna Ahmed this morning, at Muleeaage’.

The First Lady and the Regional Director conversed on the prospect of increasing collaboration with regard to child protection and children's equitable access to services and mechanisms designed to ensure their safety.

Ms. Gough also highlighted sports as an area in which children often learn important life-lessons, such as teamwork and being graceful in both victory and defeat. Accordingly she strongly recommended to incorporate sport into current strategies and curriculums designed to build up children's social skills.

The Regional Director also encouraged the First Lady to continue her active role in advocating for the rights and welfare of children of all ages, in partnership with UNICEF. The First lady stated that she would be delighted to do so and that she is keen on seeking a platform to do more social work, noting the fortuity of their common priorities in this conversation.

She further stated that sports and education are areas that she is interested in to do more work and that the IOIG 2023, due to be held in the Maldives would provide a wonderful opportunity to become constructively engaged in these areas.

Ending the call, the First Lady said she looks forward to working with the UNICEF team in the months and years ahead for the sake of child-welfare, and that she would be more than happy to assist in any capacity that she can.