Thundukuna is a special mat woven from reeds indigenous to the marshlands of Maldives. The reed is locally known as hau. Mat weaving from hau dates back some two hundred years, and this long history is mostly associated with the southernmost atolls. Thundukuna is a genuine Maldivian product, as everything that goes into producing the mat is indigenous and locally procured from our natural habitat. In this respect, the most basic things like the threads holding the reeds in place are made from the sea hibiscus bark. The eye-catching, environmentally friendly, nonfading mats are made from the local flora’s bark and roots. Before the introduction of cheap factory-made nylon mats into Maldives in early 1970s, thundukuna enjoyed a special place in most Maldivian households. These mats adorned the coir rope stringed beds, swings, and boduashi. Gaddhoo kuna, a superior quality mat woven by Gaddhoo islanders, is a favorite of the rich.

Chairperson of Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperate Society (MACCS) and an advisory board member of Homenet South Asia, Aminath has been dedicating her work to the revival of traditional handicraft in the Maldives and empowering homebased workers, especially women. With Aminath’s leadership, MACCS has facilitated the market for buying and selling some traditional handicrafts while creating and establishing a network of homebased workers and crafters across the country. The women led corporative, MACCS has also completed projects on restoration and regeneration for natural vegetation, strengthening the livelihood initiative of homebased workers in the SAARC region, strengthening of market links for sustainable hau cultivation in Fiyori, livelihood support program for wetland management-climate change adaptation and piloting alternatives to single use plastic bags in Male’ amongst others. Aminath, has documented various traditional crafts emphasizing the need for supporting sustainable livelihood activities

“Tharika” (meaning heritage in Maldivian language) is a new NGO which aims to protect, conserve and raise awareness on the tangible and intangible heritage of the Maldivian people. The founders of this NGO are Ms Dheene Hussain and Ms Yumna Maumoon.

Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperative Society (MACCS) is a handicraft cooperative, developing and marketing authentic handicraft items of the rural artisans. Based in the capital Malé, MACCS was founded by a group of women to assist and promote the development of the local handicrafts industry. Registered in 2011, MACCS promotes local arts and crafts and facilitates market access for local products. MACCS is committed, through its cooperative, to support & educate local communities in the revival of handicrafts and thereby make it a sustainable livelihood activity.