International Award for Young People
The Duke of Edinburgh’s also known as International Awards for Young People. It is an exciting self-developmental programme available to all young people worldwide aged between 14 – 25 years.
It equips them with life skills, builds their confidence and encourages them in their communities to make a difference to themselves and to the world. Today over 9 million young people in 130 countries have engaged in the exciting self-developmental programme. It is the world’s leading achievements award for young people. The Award is tough but it is about individual challenge not about reaching specific standards set by someone else.
They choose a service, physical and skills activity, go on an adventurous journey and to achieve a gold medal, take part in a Residential Project.
There are 3 progressive levels, which when successfully completed leads to a Bronze,Silver, and Gold Award. It began in 1956 and many millions more have felt its impact in their communities.
They are aiming to increase the number beginning their awards each year from 300,000 to 750,000 in the following years. The award about individual challenge. With guidance from their Award leaders, Assessor or other award volunteers .Finally, to help young people overcome their fear and challenges the award provides them with opportunities to learn from experience.
The basic structure of the award programme consist of the four sections: service adventurous journey,skills, physical recreation .There are three levels of award: Bronze (for those aged 14 or over), silver (for those aged 15 or over) and gold (for those age 16 or over).
Benefit to young people
- Self-belief and self-confident
- An independent and self-motivating attitude.
- A willingness to try new thing.
- The ability to make a plan and then make their plan happen
- Lifelong interest
- Team skills
- A connection to their broader society
- A sense of responsibility to others
The award is delivered internationally through the international award association (IAA)
- The award has four sections –
- Service –which aim to understand the value of giving service to other people and their community.
- Some general impacts and benefits :
- Enhancing leadership
- Trusting and being trusted.
- Enjoyment and a sense of satisfaction in helping others.
- Being able to relate to others from different generation.
- Skills- when encourages the devolvement of personal interest creativity or practical skills .
- Some general impact and benefits :
- Enhancing self-motivation .
- Refining awareness of one’s own potential
- Enjoyment and many more.
- Discovering new abilities and developing these on improving existing talents
- Physical recreation –which encourages participation in sports and other physical recreation for the improvement of health and fitness.
- Some impact and benefits includes:
- Developing a life style in a nice manner.
- Improving fitness
- Increasing self esteem
- Adventurous journey-which encourages a spirit and adventure of discovery undertaking a journey in a group.
- Some impacts and benefits includes:
- Working as a part of a team
- Enhancing leadership skills
- There is also an additional requirement to complete a residential project by the completion of the gold level. This project broadens a young person’s experience through involvement with others unknown to them in a residential setting.
- The award cannot be delivered without award leader and other volunteers whose guidelines and support to participants defines their journey and ultimately the impact of award. The main responsibilities of an award leader are:
- To advice and guide to participate in the award
- To publicise the award
- To keep records of participants and helpers
