Finding Meaning in Volunteering - Story of Mariyam Falak Ahmed, Assistant Manager Brand at Ooredoo Maldives

The sheer joy of witnessing the positive impact you made in someone else’s life is difficult to explain, as I fathomed after speaking with Mariyam Falak Ahmed, Assistant Manager Brand at Ooredoo Maldives.  
 
Falak’s passion in sharing selflessly with the community shines through unmistakably in her contributions at work. With Ooredoo being a community-oriented company, it set a solid base for Falak to explore different aspects of how to enrich the lives of people in various communities across the Maldives. 
 
In 2016, Falak joined Ooredoo Maldives as an Executive Assistant to the CEO. After 2 eventful years of learning about the company and its functions at the CEO’s office, Falak made the move to Brand & Marcomms Department in 2018. Since then, she has been able to coordinate a number of meaningful campaigns and initiatives carried out by the company. This is where her background in volunteering and working with different NGOs further fueled her passion. 

Boduberu Series Royal Edition with Black Leather wristband presented by Maldives Wave to Maryam Falak Ahmed, as a token for her selfless contributions to making a difference in society.
 
Currently, Falak is serving as the Assistant Manager Brand & Marcomms. She manages Sponsorships and CSR initiatives in this role.  
 
When asked about some of the stand-out projects that come to mind, Falak lit-up recollecting memories of a number of events.  
 
Thaana Mellow, an innovative idea that came to life through Miyaheli, is close to Falak’s heart. Miyaheli is an annual Social Innovation Camp organized by UNDP in partnership with Ooredoo Maldives since 2016. Thaana Mellow team won in 2019, pitching to create an app that bridges the gap between visually impaired people and reading scriptures in the Dhivehi language. The year was very special for Falak, given that it was themed around coming up with concepts for the betterment of the lives of differently abled people. 
 
Falak was also part of the project to donate sea ambulances to the Government of Maldives in 2018, one of the biggest donations made by the company in the country.  
 
Since Covid19 pandemic hit, work life has mostly been about adjusting to the virtual platforms. It has thankfully been non-stop and Falak and her team has managed to come forward with offering different initiatives for people in various fields. The internet has been a forefront facility that simplified education, distance learning, online consultations, staying in touch, and much more in times of peak cases leading on to national lock downs and quarantine measures.  
 
Prior to joining Ooredoo, Falak has an impressive portfolio that scales noteworthy work in volunteering and working with NGOs. She continues to make lasting impacts in the community presently, guiding local artisans to finding platforms to launch their work on a bigger scale. Falak is excited for the year ahead with Ooredoo, where a number of plans involving impactful projects to be carried out with niche communities in the Maldives are on the pipeline.  
 
Falak hopes to continue on this path of understanding the many needs of the marginalized community and being their voice for a better future. She urges everyone to consider volunteering at least once in their life, to find meaning in making a difference in someone else’s life.