When the team behind the Oevaru Mental Health Conference set out to do something different this year, we were thrilled to come on board. Rather than relying on the familiar format of panel discussions, the organisers wanted to create something more tangible, engaging, and impactful — a space where bold ideas could be tested, refined, and pitched. That ambition took shape as Oevaru Salla, and we were proud to help bring it to life.

What is Oevaru Salla - Pitch Competition ?

Oevaru Salla is a dedicated pitch platform built into the Oevaru 2026 Conference — a stage for bold, scalable ideas aimed at transforming mental health in the Maldivian context. Inspired by global public innovation models, the format invites proposals that blend community-based solutions, technological innovation, and emerging challenges such as climate change and mental wellbeing. Selected teams pitch live during a dedicated session at the conference, putting their ideas in front of experts and the wider community.

The themes run across the spectrum of mental health innovation — from holistic care across the lifespan and prevention and promotion, to innovations in service delivery and investing in mental health. In short: actionable, feasible, and sustainable ideas, grounded in local realities and built through interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Oevaru 2026 Conference itself, themed "Delving Deep ~ Weaving Connections," takes place on 16–17 May 2026 at Villa Nautica Resort in the Maldives, hosted by the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) and Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

How SparkHub Got Involved

Our role spanned the full journey of the Salla initiative — from shaping the concept to standing on the judging panel.

Structuring the concept and finalising the program: Hussain Jinan, our CEO and Co-founder worked alongside the organising team to help conceptualise Oevaru Salla and lock down a program that would do justice to the ambition behind it.

Selecting the finalists: Yaamin Mohamed, our CDO and Co-founder worked closely with the submission and idea evaluation team to identify the finalists — the teams who would go on to pitch during the conference.

The BaikulhaBai ideation workshop: Aiesha Adnan (COO & partner), Fathimath Neesha (CCO & Partner) and Shazif Adam (CD & Partner) led the BaikulhaBai ideation workshop for participants. The feedback was wonderful — applicants told us the session built their confidence and left them feeling genuinely ready for the final pitch.

The Pitch Lab and "Pitching 101." Aiesha Adnan led our Pitch Lab workshop to prepare finalists for the final showdown. Through a hands-on "Pitching 101" session, participants got practical, real-world experience in how to tell their story and deliver a compelling pitch.

On the judging panel. To wrap it all up, our Community Leader Hassan Junaid joined the final pitching session as a judge, alongside an incredible panel of experts.

A Hands-On Pitch Workshop

One of the highlights for us was a hands-on pitch workshop with the top selected ideas — designed to give finalists a practical understanding of what lies ahead. The focus was on refining their ideas, strengthening their storytelling, and preparing them for the journey from concept to pitch.

It was genuinely encouraging to see the level of creativity, commitment, and potential in the room. These were not just ideas on paper; they were the beginnings of ventures that could make a real difference to mental health in our communities.

Why This Matters

Engagements like Oevaru Salla matter because they strengthen the ecosystem. They give emerging innovators the tools and confidence to refine raw ideas into scalable, impactful ventures — and they keep mental health firmly in the conversation, where it belongs.

We're excited to see how these promising ideas grow into real ventures, supported by the organising team and the international expertise brought into the conference.

Thank You

Our sincere thanks to NCMH and IGMH for the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to this initiative, and to every team that brought their energy and ideas to the process.

To all the finalists heading into the Salla Pitch Competition — we're wishing you the very best. We can't wait to see how far these ideas go.

Learn more about the Oevaru Mental Health Conference at oevaruconference.mv.