ATOLL
RESEARCH
PROPOSAL.
TWO THOUSAND ISLES
(RE) DISCOVERING MALDIVES
www.twothousandisles.com
RESEARCH PREMISE
Maldivian island culture is under threat in a number of ways, with economic, political and
environmental changes eroding traditional lifestyles. Yet, Dhivehi society beyond the
famed resorts remains largely undocumented.
Subsequently, we launched our website earlier this year to address the dearth of
coverage detailing contemporary life in the atolls, utilising nearly a decade’s worth of
combined experience writing about and photographing the Maldives.
Two Thousand Isles has been warmly received, and this positive feedback has
encouraged us to pursue the project to its natural conclusion; to travel across the atolls
to capture life and culture through high-quality photojournalism.
As such work often falls beyond the scope of under-resourced media outlets, we aim to
collect and preserve stories and images that tell the tales of a unique and evolving nation;
a celebration of continuity and change.
PHOTOJOURNALISM AND TRAVEL
IN THE ATOLLS
ABOUT US
AISHATH NAJ
--Having been a freelance photographer for 5 years, Aishath Naj has worked both in
the Maldives and for high-profile overseas clients. Having articulated others’ stories
through lifestyle, landscape and portrait photography, she has developed a reputation
as one of the country’s best photographers.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/naj123
Twitter: @naj_nudge
Instagram: @najnudge
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.aishathnaj.com
DANIEL BOSLEY
--Daniel has worked as a journalist in the Maldives since 2012. A former editor of Minivan
News, he has written regularly for international publications including Reuters and the
Economist.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/daniel.bosley2
Twitter: @dbosley80
Email: [email protected]
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MALDIVIAN PHOTOGRAPHER AISHATH NAJ AND
HER HUSBAND , BRITISH WRITER DANIEL BOSLEY
AUDIENCE, AIM, IMPACT
Audience
Our tagline ‘(Re)Discovering the Maldives’ captures our desire to bring both old and new stories to fresh
audiences, re-examining what we think we know about the archipelago. Additionally, we will document
the journey itself, thereby adding a personal travel blog element well-suited to social media and the
travel market.
With climate change of global importance, and the guesthouse industry bringing more people than
ever to the country’s previously isolated atolls, our work has the potential to generate a large following.
We will also partner with local and international media outlets to further broaden our reach.
Aim
As a journalism project, we will raise awareness of Maldivian culture and lifestyle. Rapid urbanisation
and environmental pressures are threatening island life, and projects such as ours will contribute
towards documenting these communities for posterity.
Impact
Domestically, a greater appreciation of heritage and culture - traditionally neglected - is invaluable for
a maturing electorate, while the development of the Maldives is of global interest from the perspective
of human rights and climate change.
Utilising digital media and user-friendly content, the project’s immediate impact can be measured
through reach, hits, shares, etc.
PLAN
We recognise that visiting all 187 inhabited islands is a highly ambitious aim - the most any
non-Maldivian has visited is thought to be around 140. As such a journey would take 18 months
to 2 years to complete (based on 2 - 3 days on each island), we will review our plans on a threemonthly basis.
We plan to use Addu, in the country’s far south, as a base (for logistical reasons) and so it is likely
that we will begin the trip there, moving up through Fuvahmulah and island hopping through
Huvadhu atoll in the first weeks.
This plan is subject to change, however, depending on our partners’ needs. We intend to start the
trip in early 2017, so as to have completed the first three months before the summer monsoon
season arrives.
A MALDIVIAN’S PICTURES AND AN
ENGLISHMAN’S WORDS COMBINING TO TELL
THE REAL STORIES OF AN ISLAND NATION
BUDGET & FUNDING
Financing the production of quality online content continues to be a problem for all outlets, but we
feel that this continues to be the best way to impact upon a wide audience. As a team of just two
with our own equipment, expenses for the project will be reduced to the basics of transport, food,
accommodation, internet access and insurance for our equipment.
Living costs on the islands are very small and, using local accommodation and public transport, we
anticipate monthly costs would not exceed $2000 per month (around $60 per day).
Accommodation with local families can often be obtained for free, though this cannot be guaranteed,
and compensation for hosts’ generosity would form a key part of the budget. Overall, maintaining a
flexible schedule will be key to keeping the project sustainable.
Example: (Huvadhoo/Gdh, GA)
EXPENSE*
AMOUNT
Flight from Fuvahmulah - Gdh
Kaadhedhoo, Maldivian Airlines (x2)
MVR4000 (approx)
Accommodation in 18 inhabited
islands (2-3 nights per island)
MVR18,000 - MVR36,000 (MVR500 per night**)
Atoll ferr y between islands (17 trips x 2)
MVR1,190 - MVR1,870 (MVR35-55 per journey)
Meals (two people, 36 - 54 days)
MVR9,000 - MVR13,500 (MVR250 per day)
TOTAL (36 - 54 days)
MVR 32,190 (US$2,087) - MVR 55,370 (US$3,590)
Average daily cost (US$): 57-66
* Costs of equipment insurance with local providers is still to be determined.
** Actual costs are likely to be far less than this, and would be easier to judge after initial period of travel.
PARTNERSHIP
In order to cover these expenses, we are seeking the following partnerships:
COLLABORATION
During our travels we intend to produce pictures, written and
video content for media outlets as well as the travel industry.
We would also be happy to coordinate our work with NGOs,
consultancies, etc, who wish to gather information or conduct
projects in the islands.
ADVERTISING
As we gather more traffic through our site and social media
networks, we will pursue paid advertising opportunities.
SPONSORSHIP
While we hope to produce entertaining content in order
to maximise our reach, the main purpose of the blog is to
accurately document island life and to bring gather stories from
the atolls.
Philanthropic contributions, from either companies or
individuals, would be most welcome and would be featured on a
dedicated donors page.
WORDS.
PICTURES.
MALDIVES.
DOCUMENTING
THE PEOPLE,
PLACES AND
STORIES
THAT MAKE A
MODERN NATION.
CELEBRATING
CONTINUITY AND
CHANGE.
DELIVERABLES
We can deliver the following content to interested partners and are happy to discuss any additional
CULTURE.
NEWS ARTICLES
INTERVIEWS
DRONE
PHOTOGRAPHY
RESORT/
GUESTHOUSE
REVIEWS
INTERIOR/
EXTERIOR
PHOTOGRAPHY
ATOLLS.
LIVES.
DAILY BLOG
POSTS
STORIES.
VIDEO BLOGS
PORTRITS
Ultimately, our aim is to preserve the best of our work in a book upon conclusion of the project.
THANK YOU.
CONTACT
Two Thousand Isles
Social Media
Mail / Web
+960 9638379
+960 9699625
Maldives
Facebook: twothousandisles
Twitter: @2thousandisles
Instagram: @twothousandisles
Contact:[email protected]
Website: www.twothousandisles.com