‘A challenge means understanding that it will be hard, but doing it anyway.’
Levison Wood
As one may know, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a youth awards program founded by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. GEMS Modern Academy introduces this event to its students every year with an
informative and thought-provoking presentation, like the one that took place on 20th April 2022.
The meeting started at 3 p.m. and lasted for about an hour, hosted by Mr. Avinash Surve. The Award first took place on September 1, 1956. The Duke of Edinburgh initially considered the idea of a national program for boys 15-18 to encourage self-development in them and in 1958, girls started participating as well by 2002, several regions worldwide had set up offices and took part in the Award.
Today, more than 8 million young people have taken part in the Award as it is expanding, targeting those who have not previously had opportunities. The Award has a lot to offer to every young student regardless of their circumstance.
But why should one participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award?
There are numerous benefits that come along with participation which were also mentioned in the session, such as:
*Self-confidence
*A sense of Identity
*A real awareness of their strengths
*New talents and abilities
*The ability to plan and use time
*The ability to learn from and give to others in the community
Through participation, one can be empowered to develop life essential skills like resilience, adaptability, creativity, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication. This can lead to a positive personal change in our lives.
Ahana Hatwal (9D)