Date: 26 June 2024

Designed and launched the Young Khateeb Development Initiative targeted to train 1,000 Young Khateebs within a five-year period, is a structured national youth training programme aimed at developing future religious leaders and strengthening mosque-based religious services across the Maldives. The initiative was introduced to address the imam capacity gaps at mosques and growing need for qualified Khateebs (Friday sermon preachers). By engaging youth at an early stage and equipping them with religious knowledge, leadership skills, and practical experience in sermon delivery, the initiative plays a critical role in cultivating future Islamic scholars, community leaders, and mosque-based religious educators, thereby ensuring continuity in Islamic learning and strengthening the religious and moral foundations of the Muslim community in the Maldives.

The programme specifically targets students in Grades 10–12 and youth under the age of 18, providing structured training in Khutbah preparation, Qur’anic recitation, Islamic jurisprudence, public speaking, religious leadership, and ethical conduct, thereby nurturing a new generation of knowledgeable and confident young Khateebs capable of delivering sermons and contributing to community religious life. As of 2026, the programme has successfully trained 510 Young Khateebs, representing significant progress toward the national target and contributing to strengthening religious leadership capacity across multiple islands.