In Vaikaradhoo, a small group of women gather each month around tables
covered with textile and soft filling as their careful stitches and patient hands bring to life the brightly coloured fabric turtles and crabs meant for tiny hands.
It began as a training programme in 2023 and has now grown into a livelihood initiative benefitting 14 households. In 2025, the women produced their first full batches of soft toys through a partnership supported by Atmosphere Foundation.
now find their way to Atmosphere Core resorts, where young guests receive them as a lovely keepsake, and part of their stay.
For the women involved, it represents the beginning of small-scale entrepreneurship and a chance to turn skill and creativity into a reliable source of income, opening the door to new opportunities for themselves and their families.
Key Facts
• Project duration: April 2025 – April 2026
• MoU signed: 21 April 2025 with HDh Vaikaradhoo Council
• Production target: 1,000 soft toys per month: 500 turtles | 500 crabs