About Friends of Maldives

In December 2003, Friends of Maldives (FOM) was established in the UK, focusing on bringing human rights abuse and poor governance in the Maldives to the attention of the international community. FOM also provided assistance to the pro-democracy movement and helped strengthen Maldives civil society and independent media. FOM remains observant of human rights issues in the Maldives. 

Since the first free and fair presidential elections in the Maldives in October 2008, FOM continues its work focusing on social issues and other development programs, primarily in Health and Education Sectors, with the International Volunteer Programme (IVP), the Maldives Volunteer Corps (MVC) and the Maldives High Commission (London).

David Hardingham

Founder of Friends of Maldives

David was born in South Africa and completed his education in the United Kingdom before embarking on a business career. He has two daughters and lives in Salisbury. Apart from his family and his dog, his interests are snowboarding and the Maldives.

Founder of the association Friends of Maldives (FOM), co-founder of Minivan Radio, founder of Maldives Aid the UK charity and he is the Honorary Consul for the Maldives in Salisbury.

Lucy Johnson

Leading Health and Social Care Volunteer section

Lucy went to Dauntseys school in Wiltshire, then studied at Sheffield Hallam University, where she gained a BA(hons) in Nursing and qualified as a Registered General Nurse. She went on to achieve an MSc in Nursing at London South Bank University and a diploma in tropical medicine at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She has primarily worked in the fields of HIV and infectious diseases, intensive care, and management of acute, chronic and cancer pain, aswell as lecturing at Kings College London, and currently Cardiff University. Her interest in marginalised patient groups, has led her to undertake research into Muslim's healthcare in UK and pain relief for people with sickle cell disease. She has also completed projects in India, Uganda and Jamaica.

Lucy has been a consultant nurse in pain management for 12 years and also practises acupuncture. She currently lives in Sheffield, has two small children and likes salsa dancing and cycling.

 Howard Taylor

Leading Education Volunteer section

Howard Taylor was born in South Africa and grew up on a farm in the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal. After attending Maritzburg College, he went on to study Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort, near Pretoria. After two years as an officer in the South African Medical Services, he took up a senior lecture post at the Medical University of Southern Africa. During his period there he was involved in research in the field of comparative cardiology and anatomy. Since leaving the university, Howard has worked as a veterinarian in private practices in Cape Town and around Salisbury, UK, where he now runs his own practice. He has two daughters, both of whom are presently in tertiary education.

Guin Batten

Leading Sports Development Volunteer section

Guin is a Silver Medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, In September 16th 2003 she became both the first person to row the English Channel in an Olympic class single and the first women to row across solo. Her record of 3 hours and 14 minutes remains unbroken and is some 8 minutes faster than the men’s record. Guin studied at Dauntsey’s School, in Wiltshire. She received a BA (hons) in Human Movement Studies from Leeds Metropolitan University and a MSc in Sport Science from Loughborough University. Guin is the Head of Operations within the TOP Foundation.

On 4th of July 2010 Guin was honoured as Lady of Maldives by Dr. Farahanaz Faizal, High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives in London and presented with a certificate to which states, "This is to acknowledge your heroic and record breaking crossing of the zero degree channel of the Maldives. and you are now known as 'the Maldives Lady'.