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| Canada's Home Page HRH Prince Philip Take the Challenge In Victoria In Pembrokeshire Ontario Division Students Partnership Worldwide |
| Duke of Edinburgh's Award |
| The Award Programme was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1956 as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, as a means to encourage and motivate young people over the age of 14 years to become involved in a balanced programme of voluntary self-development activities. The Programme was designed with great care by a small team, whose main members included HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Dr. Kurt Hahn, educationalist and founder of Outward Bound and the United World Colleges, and Lord Hunt, the famous adventurer and leader of the first team to conquer Mount Everest. Almost as soon as it was launched in the UK, the Scheme was taken up by schools and youth groups in other countries. The unique composition of the Programme is ideally suited to easy adaptation and integration into different cultures and societies. The basic content of the Award remains the same throughout the world, but the activities, the application and even the title are all adapted to suit the varying needs of young people in different countries. Over the past three decades the Programme has developed and grown, touching the lives of young people in over 60 countries. In many countries it is known as The President's Award or The National Youth Award. In others a more national title has been adopted, eg. The Crown Print Award in Jordan and Gaisce in Republic of Iresland. The Programme is continuously updated and modified to suit the changing demands of modern socity and the needs of young people. Today the Award is a major international programme recognised and used by agencies concerned with young people throughout the world. |
| Introduction How it all Began |
| Participants must be between the ages of 14 and 25. The basic structure of the Award Programme consists of the four mandatory sections: Service Expeditions Skills Physical Recreation There are three levels of Award: Bronze (for those over 14) Silver (for those over 15) Gold (for those over 16) |
| The Operational Principles |
| The Award Programme is about challenge. It is also about providing the opportunity to accept a challenge. The Award offers young people the opportunity to set a personal goal and achieve it. Along the way, they learn about themselves and about qualities like responsibility, trust and the ability to plan and organise themselves. There is no competition between participants. The only people with whom they compete are themselves. Self-motivation is fundamental to the Programme. There are no set standards to achieve. The criterion for gaining an Award is based on individual improvement based on each participant's starting point and potential. Participation in the Programme is entirely voluntary. Participants choose their own activities within the four areas and set their own goals. Each challenge requires a special dedication, both physical and mental, and while the structure of the Programme provides specialist help in different skills, the onus is on individual participants to make their own way as best they can. Success in the Award comes through a conscious decision to accept and take up the challenges. |
| The Award Opportunity and Challenge |
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| Service Expeditions Skills Physical Recreation |
| To learn how to give useful service to others To encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery To encourage the development of personal interests and practical skills To encourage participation in physical recreation and improvement of performance |
| For each level, participants have to complete the requirement of each of the four Sections: |
| At Gold level, participants have to complete an additional Section: |
| To broaden experience through involvement with others in a residential setting |
| Residential Project |
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| Created November 2001 |