GAHN Summit Declaration

AIM

This Summit proposes the concept and implementation plan for the formation of the Gold Award Holders’ Network (GAHN), in India.

BACKGROUND
Under the auspices of the NAA, the Award has experienced significant growth. More young people are now participating than ever before and an increasing number of Award Holders now have the desire to form Award Holders’ Associations (AHAs). A Gold Award Holders’ Network (GAHN) can help to link, network and synergise active Award holders all around the world so as to provide them with a platform to serve the global community and create long-lasting links amongst young people. It will also encourage existing AHAs to work more closely with their respective Zones.

AIMS OF THE GOLD AWARD HOLDERS NETWORK
The Gold Award Holders’ Network is being established with the following aims:

a. Supporting the NAA. The GAHN will be able to support the development of successful AHAs, by having good working relationships with their own Zones. The support and recognition of the GAHN by IAYP India is crucial. In return, the recognised AHAs could support their Zones in a number of ways, as successfully demonstrated by some existing Gold Holders at the NAA office.

b. Sharing of best practices with NAA and AHAs. The GAHN presents opportunities to share best practices amongst the NAA and the AHAs. While noting the influences of culture on the various modus operandi, lessons learned from the different approaches can be beneficial. This open sharing will enhance the knowledge management payoff and synergistic gains of the network.

c. Development of links between AHAs. The immediate payoff of the GAHN would be its linkages to facilitate and build bilateral and multilateral links among AHA members. An example could be the bilateral cooperation between the respective AHAs and NAA around the country. Many collaborative projects can transpire from these linkages at the bilateral, regional and international levels and funding may be raised via NAA or other appropriate platforms.

d. Platform for representation at international events. The GAHN may give its representatives opportunities to fly the NAA flag at various regional and national platforms, such as events initiated by the IAA, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

e. Feedback Forum to NAA. With the GAHN, NAA will be able to reach out formally to recognised AHAs and be informed of any feedback or proposals from the youth. This will form an additional means of communication for Award-related matters.

THE GOLD AWARD HOLDERS NETWORK (GAHN)

The Gold Award Holders' Society of India will assist the NAA and the IAYP India Team in the growth and development of the Award in India. Will comprise of GOLD HOLDERS only, and there will be one national body.

The seven members needed to form a Society and complete the paper work will be Ishita Khanna, Tripti Bansal, Pranay Kapoor, Saachi Sarin, Sandeep Dutt, Rohit Saxena and Juzher Shaikhally.

The founding team will sign the Memorandum and Articles for the Society and the registered office of the Society will be the same as the working address of IAYP India (596 Asian Games Village, New Delhi 110049).

A CALL OF ACTION

We the Gold Award Holders in India affirm to support the NAA and take ahead the programme which highlights practical experience and exceptional efforts as drivers along life’s journey and where through our programme we give young people the opportunities and confidence to keep learning, do more, and go further. This encapsulates the original vision of our founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
We affirm to support the work of the AWARD PROGRAMME FOUNDATION, Administering Trust of The International Award for Young People, India (The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award) a Public Charitable Trust Reg. No. TR/27951, registered in India.

__________________________
Signature of Gold Award Holder
Date:
Venue:

The Sydney Declaration – Owning Our Future

PREAMBLE

We, the FORUM, on this 21st Anniversary of the Association, having met from 28th to 31st October 2009 in Sydney, Australia, reaffirm our vision to be recognised as the programme of choice for young people, reflected in quality, growth and external perception.

At a time in which the world is beset by a range of challenges around faith and family, the FORUM reasserted the principles and values of self-reliance, interdependence, integrity, accessibility, transparency, inclusivity and empowerment to ensure continued quality, relevance and sustainability of the Award programme within a holistic development framework.

The FORUM reiterated the necessity for the Award programme to recognise the importance of supporting National Award Authorities (NAAs) through capacity building projects and facilitating links to national agendas which will inform and extend the Award programme.

FORUM welcomed the opportunity to benefit from the experiences of the youth delegates. NAAs, Trustees, World Fellows, supporters, Ministers & Directors of Education, Youth and Sport and agreed that they played a valuable role in highlighting, exchanging and documenting national, regional and international experiences.

The FORUM acknowledged the importance of youth perspectives and their meaningful participation in and contribution to both the governance and programmatic areas of the Award programme and agreed that the national and regional youth representatives have strategic roles to play in this regard.

Presentations and discussions took into account the challenges of globalisation, changing youth culture and the need for creativity and innovation in addressing youth development through the Award programme. The need to ensure professionalism, clear and consistent values and good governance at all levels of the Association was noted.

A CALL OF ACTION

We resolve to step up the process of bringing clarity and consistency to our common purpose; fostering agents of social changes guided by the principles of self-reliance, interdependence and altruistic action, where boundaries of age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, class and creed, fall away.

We affirm the Award as a programme which highlights practical experience and exceptional efforts as drivers along life’s journey and where through our programme we give young people the opportunities and confidence to keep learning, do more, and go further. This encapsulates the original vision of our founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

We seek further to arrive at a common understanding and communication of a programme globally recognised, widely endorsed and quality assured through the “One Award Alliance”, to which we all belong.