The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award enables 14-24year olds to learn practical skills that are valuable to their personal and professional development.
History
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (commonly abbreviated DOE), is the generic name for a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh that has since expanded to 140 other countries. The awards recognise adolescents and young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises modelled on Kurt Hahn‘s solution to the “Six Declines of Modern Youth.”
In the United Kingdom the programme is run by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a royal charter corporation. A separate entity, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, promotes the award abroad and acts as a coordinating body for award sponsors in other nations, which are organised into 62 National Award Authorities and a number of Independent Operators. Award sponsors in countries outside the United Kingdom may title their awards Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, though the recognition also operates under a variety of other names in countries without a historic link to the British monarchy, or that have severed such links
The Award framework
The Award is comprised of three levels and four sections. Participants complete all four sections at each level in order to achieve their Award. At Gold level, participants also complete a Residential Project.
The three levels are:
For those over 14 years old.
For those over 15 years old.
For those over 16 years old.
Service
The Service section of the Award encourages young people to volunteer their time to and understand the benefits of this service to their community.
Participants are required to give service (volunteer) over a set period of time that enables them to experience the benefits that their service provides to others.
Examples of Service:
Time requirements:
Skills
The Skills section of the Award encourages the development of personal interests and practical and social skills.
The Skills section provides the opportunity for a participant to either improve on an existing skill, or to try something new. As with the other Sections of the Award, a level of commitment is required over time to progress a skill. It leads to a sense of achievement and well-being, and possibly improved employability through the development of life and vocational skills.
Examples of Skills
Time requirements
Bronze – At least 3 months
Silver – At least 6 months
Gold – At least 12 months
Physical Recreation
The Physical Recreation section of the Award encourages young people to participate in sport and other physical recreation for the improvement of health and fitness.
Encouraging healthy behaviours has benefits, not only for participants but also for their communities, whether through improved health, or active participation in team activities. This Section specifically aims to improve the health, team skills, self-esteem and confidence of participants.
Examples of Physical Recreation
Time requirements
Bronze – At least 3 months
Silver – At least 6 months
Gold – At least 12 months
Adventurous Journey
The Adventurous Journey section encourages a sense of adventure and discovery whilst undertaking a team journey or expedition. As part of a small team, participants plan, train for and undertake a journey with a purpose in an unfamiliar environment.
The journey can be an exploration or an expedition but must be a challenge. The aim of this Section is to provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the wider environment, as well as to develop their self-confidence, team work and health. Participants are taken out of their comfort zone but kept within a safe and secure setting, achieved through suitable training and supervision.
Examples of Adventurous Journeys (explorations and expeditions)
Time requirements
Residential Project
The Residential Project, completed only at Gold Level, aims to broaden participants’ horizons through involvement with others in a residential setting.
Participants have the opportunity to share a purposeful experience with people who are not their usual companions and work towards a common goal, set out by the participants themselves. Through the Residential Project participants will meet new people, explore life in an unfamiliar environment, develop new skills and, hopefully, have a life changing experience.
Examples of Residential Projects
Time requirements
The activity should take place over a period of at least four nights and five consecutive days.
Source : http://www.intaward.org/
Why introduce Duke of Edinburgh Award to Stafford Sri Lankan School – Doha ?
Participants have the opportunity to share a purposeful experience with people who are not their usual companions and work towards a common goal, set out by the participants themselves. Through the Residential Project participants will meet new people, explore life in an unfamiliar environment, develop new skills and, hopefully, have a life changing experience.
http://www.dofe.org/go/why/
Our region – Gulf
The Award in Qatar is delivered by the licensed organisations, known as Independent Award Centres (IACs), listed below.
· Al Khor International School, Al Khor
· Doha British School, Doha
· Doha College, Doha
· Dukhan English School, Dukhan
· Park House English School, Doha
· Qatar International School, Doha
· Sherborne Qatar, Doha
Contact Details
James Etheridge | IAC Operations Officer – Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States | The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation
T +44(0)2072224242 | james.etheridge@intaward.org | www.intaward.org | Mobile/Whatsapp +44(0)7496949912
To start the award
