The Day HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh came to visit staff at Award House

HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh recently visited staff at The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation to learn more about how the Award continues to transform the lives of individuals and their communities.

Administrator for the Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States (EMAS), Dorothea Gorman, talks about meeting the special guests and her unexpected chat with The Duke about her own Award experience.

Dorothea Gorman, Administrator for EMAS at The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.

“When I heard that HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh were going to visit our new offices and officially open them I was excited, very excited. At that point I just thought that they would be in the same building, I would see them unveil a plaque and it would be an interesting day. This did all happen, but we were very fortunate that they also took time to meet with all Award staff. As a result I had the chance to talk to HRH, our Founder and Patron, and feel thoroughly inspired as a result.

“The Duke asked me questions about doing my Silver Award. I completed the Award at school over 15 years ago now but the answers came readily to my mind. I think that really sums up the benefits of the Award for me – it leaves you with lifelong memories, skills and experiences.

“For example, The Duke asked what I had done for my Service section. My friend and I visited an elderly lady who lived on our estate for an hour every week after school. Ostensibly the role was ‘Assisting with housework’, polishing silverware or dusting the skirting boards, but when we were finished each week we would also have a drink and a chat with her. She lived alone, her family did not live nearby and she told us she was grateful for the company. My friend and I thought that we were just grateful for getting our Service section signed off, but actually we were learning valuable skills such as being reliable and how to talk to people who were different to ourselves. These days my friend is GP, which involves a lot of talking/listening to people and I continue to volunteer with the elderly, as I realise that a few hours out of my busy life can be invaluable to someone else.

“I don’t think that I would have undertaken this activity without The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, the same for the Adventurous Journey section, and although I would still have done Physical Recreation and learnt a variety of Skills at school, it is the combination of them all, the effort working towards an ultimate goal, the chance to undertake new activities, to work in a team with peers, to challenge yourself and all of the other great benefits of the Award that enables you to find, what HRH himself has referred to as, ‘an added purpose and pleasure’ in life.

“In my role at the International Award Foundation, as Administrator for the Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States (EMAS) regional team, I get to support National Operators and Independent Award Centres across the region to offer this opportunity to young people and today I will do so with an added spring in my step thanks to the memories of the day HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited the International Award Office.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is delivered in more than 140 countries and territories around the world, overseen by The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and its staff in the four regions of EMAS, Africa, Americas and Asia Pacific. Find out more about the Award and how it’s empowering young people across the globe.

Source : http://intaward.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/the-day-hm-the-queen-came-to-visit/

AWARD LEADER ORIENTATION WORKSHOP AT VIDYA SANSKAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, FARIDBAD

11th March 2014 : A report by Gyanendra Tewatia (YES Centre Manager)

One day orientation workshop for Award mentors was held for twenty teachers from Vidya Sanskar International School. Vasudha Neel Mani, Principal, Vidya Sanskar International School welcomed National Award Authority (NAA) India National Director Kapil Bhalla by talking about the excitement among the school students who are part of The International Award for Young People (IAYP) programme and also talked about the overall development she has witnessed among the students taking IAYP programme. Mr. Bhalla also talked about the positivity that is induced into the students who are able to achieve the goals that are set by the participants themselves.

The one day workshop helped the Award Leaders to understand how the program operates and they were also made to understand their importance when the student of their school gets involved in IAYP programme. Through various activities the programme involved lively interaction between the mentors and the trainers. The workshop was divided into four sections based upon the pillars of the Award i.e. Skills, Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey and was delivered by Kapil Bhalla, Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) & Vijayashree Pahal (Member, National Training Panel). The programme concluded with the presentation of participation certificates to the participants by Deepti Mahlotra, Vice principal. Click for pictures

WELCOMING SRIJAN SUMEET CHOUDHARY AS OUR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

National Award Authority is happy to welcome Srijan Sumeet Choudhary as new Communications Manager and wish him every success.

Srijan is a Sports Management Graduate from Loughborough University and Electronics & Communication Engineer from Sikkim Manipal University. His work background talks about the progression he has made from being a Technological Analyst with Wells Fargo India Solution to working as an Online Content Manager for Indian Premier League' franchise Delhi Daredevils. Srijan can be contacted at srijan@dofe.in

TREK TO BHADRAJ PEAK (9000 FT), MUSSOORIE (UTTARAKHAND)

2nd February 2014: A report from Harshit Kaushik, Doon International School, Dehra Dun

Do not go where the path may lead, go indeed where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Keeping the same spirit high this time, we the Award aspirants of Doon International School, Dehra Dun conquered Bhadraj peak - 9000 feet. Walking into the lap of nature with her beauty at its best, all the students gave a good account of stamina and self motivation.

The lap was a part of our Award journey for the Gold and Silver Awards, with 41 participants. After having a technical session of Do's and Don'ts by our escort teacher Ravi Dutt, we all proceeded towards a village, a distance of two hours. After reaching there, we started our trek for Bhadraj peak with a lot of spirit and enthusiasm. The journey was of 21 km on one side and therefore tiring but we  were determined to reach the summit. We had to take a circuitous route in which we had to take care of ourselves and our team members at every step.   Someone rightly said "never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top of a mountain, then you will see how low it was". Keeping the same thing in mind we all kept ascending and finally after the adventurous journey, we reached at the top at 1600 hrs.  After having a long relaxation period at the peak we started our descent back to the village. On the way we faced many difficulties but we didn't lose hope. Finally we came down to the village at 2300hrs.

It was overall a wonderful lifetime experience for all of us. After coming down we had the satisfaction of knowing that we had conquered a peak situated at 9000 ft because now we believe that the greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.  Click for pictures

EXPEDITION TO MATHA HILLS FOREST (PURULIA)

SUCCESS IS ONE PERCENT INSPIRATION AND NINETY-NINE PERCENT PERSPIRATION

12th - 17th January 2014: A report from Md. Zeeshan (Gold Award participant of Emmanuel Ministries, Calcutta) 

All the 17 Award aspirants (boys and girls) geared up with their rucksacks waiting expectantly to face the challenges that were before them. It was an evening with the entire community crowding before the bus to see their wards off to the Howrah station. We assembled at the Howrah Station and were joined by 15 awardees of Sri Sarada Math, Kolkata and 9 awardees of All Bengal's Women Union, Kolkata. We boarded the Adra Chakradarpur passenger at 11.30 and arrived at the Barabhum Station the next morning at 7.30 a.m. On the train we occupied our berths and sat together for a community meal.

At the campsite for about at least 17 km away from the Barabhum Station we together enjoyed the beautiful ambience of the Matha Hills forest.

Some participants were taken aback with the punctuality and the discipline which they feels that it is the most important crux of individual upbringing and development. Few participants took part in all the mountaineering activities even in adverse situations. Some participants were a bit too hesitant about the climbing activities, they endured in the last and was successful. During the day and right throughout the evening we were packed with loads of activities and some of it was very challenging.

Monkey crawling, the single rope bridge and the Burma Bridge were the highlights of the camp. Gaining vertical height to the Mathaburu Summit was a spectacular journey. It was to our amazement and wonder to learn the techniques of how to cook food without the use of utensils. This group activity encouraged everybody to do their bit, and work towards a common goal. An attentive and careful listening of stories of expedition to the Mt. Everest by IAYP Programme Manager, Bivujit Mukhoty actually made a difference in the awardees life. It was not a matter that how high he climbed, but it mattered most for him when he evacuated his fellow-climbers stranded and frost bitten on the mountains.

Md. Manzoor (Gold Award holder) also shared his memories of the days when he was just a novice and after acquiring the Gold Award he couldn't imagine that he would be in the same wave length along with the instructors, and how much the award programme has contributed considerably to his personality and character.

One of the most fascinating parts of this expedition was to witness the largeness of heart that was so clearly reflected among the instructors. Click for pictures