State Trading Organization (STO) has concluded this year’s STO Dhekunu Foari, bringing together employees from across the southern regions of the Maldives for six days of sports, training and team-building activities in Hithadhoo, Addu City.
Organised by the STO Recreation Club, the annual programme is designed to strengthen connections between employees stationed in different parts of the country while providing opportunities for professional development outside their regular working environment.
This year’s edition brought together STO employees from L. Fonadhoo, Fuvahmulah City, GA. Thinadhoo, Hulhumeedhoo and Addu City, reflecting the company’s operational presence across the southern atolls.
According to STO, one of the main objectives of Dhekunu Foari is to create stronger working relationships among employees who may otherwise have limited opportunities to interact due to being stationed on different islands.
The programme also focuses on strengthening teamwork, building professional skills and creating an environment for employees to develop friendships and networks across different areas of the company.
Five teams compete across sporting events
Sports and recreational activities formed a major part of the six-day programme, with participants divided into five teams and competing to accumulate points towards the overall championship.
Employees competed in volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess and carrom, with prizes presented to the strongest-performing teams across the different events.
The competitive activities were complemented by team-building exercises intended to strengthen communication and cooperation between employees.
Rather than focusing solely on recreation, STO also incorporated a series of training sessions into this year’s programme.
Employees received first aid and fire awareness training, providing participants with practical knowledge that can be applied during workplace emergencies.
Training was also conducted on telephone etiquette and communication standards, focusing on professional interactions and improving service-related communication.
Another component addressed the prevention of workplace sexual harassment, alongside broader activities aimed at strengthening teamwork and workplace relationships.
Programme concludes with Dinner Night
The six-day programme concluded with a special Dinner Night, attended by STO Managing Director Shimad Ibrahim and members of the company’s senior management.
Winning teams and groups from the different competitions were recognised during the closing event, with prizes and certificates presented in recognition of their performances.
Dhekunu Foari forms part of STO’s employee engagement activities and is particularly significant for staff based outside the Greater Malé region.
As one of the country’s largest state-owned enterprises, STO operates across several sectors and maintains operations in different parts of the Maldives. Its businesses span areas including essential commodities, fuel, healthcare, construction materials and other commercial services.
Maintaining a geographically dispersed workforce means employees stationed in different regions may work within the same organisation while having relatively few opportunities to meet directly. Programmes such as Dhekunu Foari provide a platform to bring those teams together while combining staff development with recreation.
STO said the annual initiative is intended to strengthen teamwork and professional capacity while building closer relationships among employees serving communities across the country.
