history and development

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How the DofE has improved gender equality and access to education in Ghana

The DofE was first brought to Ghana 47 years ago, when it was given the name Head of State Award Scheme (HOSA). Being familiar with the DofE, Tunde Folawiyo is doubtless aware that over the decades, the award scheme has given over 180,000 young people in Ghana the opportunity to reach their potential, and gain practical skills which have helped them in both their professional and personal lives.

The efforts of participants have also had an enormously positive impact on many of Ghana’s towns and villages, particularly with regard to gender inequality, poverty and education. The former is a particularly significant problem in this country; more often than not, women have no option but to bear the burden of all of the household duties, and have little time left for education or socialising. The rate of illiteracy among Ghanaian women is 15% higher than among Ghanaian men, and while about 50% of men complete secondary school, only 29% of women make it past their primary education.

Tunde FolawiyoOne of the HOSA participants, Patricia Yeboah, decided to focus her Service project on helping marginalised women in Ghana to share their experiences and stories with the world, through photographs. This has not only helped to raise awareness of the country’s educational issues, but has also provided many young Ghanaian women with a creative and social outlet. The project is still running today, with groups of women meeting each weekend at local schools, to explore the art of photography.

Two university students from Ghana, Esther Chinebuah and Alice Agyiri, also used their HOSA award projects to help others. After some careful research, they observed that the people in the region of Pampaso were experiencing severe hardship; basic amenities like clean water, shelter and food were unavailable to many. Those who keep up to date with this award programme, like Tunde Folawiyo, might remember that these two students decided to launch a campaign called Take Action, which enabled them to share the story of the Pampaso people with the general public.

The first stage involved actively encouraging people around the country to donate food and clothing to the area’s most impoverished families. Following this, they set to work on the second stage, which consisted of supporting a government-led school lunch programme that now provides Pampaso students with one nutritious meal each day, for free. Lastly, they spoke to many parents in the local community, and helped them to understand the importance of sending their children to school. At the end of the campaign, over 60 new students had enrolled in the primary and secondary schools, and had been provided with the necessary school supplies and uniforms.

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The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Africa

As one of the world’s leading initiatives to engage with, and promote positive accomplishments amongst the world’s youth population, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has continued to inspire and help young Tunde Folawiyopeople achieve their potential throughout the world. In no other region has this been more apparent than in the continent of Africa.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award empowers those between 14 and 25 years old to be active, enthusiastic contributors to the world around them. In Africa this has culminated in a variety of initiatives and projects set up across many different countries in that region. Those who run the awards hope that through engaging with young people in numerous places, that the biggest possible positive impact can be made. The success of the organisation can be seen through a range of impressive statistics which show that each year 300,000 people take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, many of whom come from difficult or underprivileged backgrounds.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has a team operating in Africa which has had a significant number of successes. This team coordinates with projects across the African continent ensuring that an increasing number of young people in that part of the world have access to the life affirming, confidence building, and fun activities which are offered by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Edwin Kimani and Martin Matabishi, in their capacities as the Africa Regional Director and Africa Regional Programme Manager respectively, work with 21 national operators across the continent as well as a further 20 independent Duke of Edinburgh’s Award centres.

Initiatives carried out in Africa have included engaging with communities in Ghana through a charity called Village by Village. Through volunteering with this organisation, individuals under 25 can add this achievement to their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Volunteers contribute their time to help teach English to children of West African communities in Ghana, assist construction workers to complete the important amenities and buildings required for the region to prosper, coach children in a variety of sports, assist professionals in providing health care and health clinics, offer business advice to developing businesses, or capture the spirit of Africa in photographs which will go on to promote the cause.

Initiatives such as Village by Village show the impact that the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has on an international level, providing both, philanthropic services, as well as helping young people develop into well rounded and conscientious adults.

Operating since 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award offers a World Fellowship initiative where successful business people and philanthropists such as Tunde Folawiyo (for more information please visit this Tunde Folawiyo bio) continue to contribute their time and resources to helping the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award change the lives of as many young people as possible, for the better.

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How the DofE is changing young people’s lives in Ghana

The Ghanaian version of the DofE – known as the Head of State Award Scheme – has been in operation since 1967. Over the decades, more than 180,000 young people have taken part in it, and in doing so, have developed the life skills and practical knowledge that they need to succeed in life. The scheme’s committee has created a framework for the individuals, which celebrates rather than suppresses the unique gifts that each individual participant has. With the support of volunteer leaders and stakeholders, they are now working hard to increase the number of young people in the scheme; within the next six Tunde Folawiyoyears, they hope that at least 5% of those aged between 14-24 in Ghana will be involved.

Being from Africa, Tunde Folawiyo is doubtless aware that whilst young people account for approximately 26% of Ghana’s population, there are currently very few urban employment opportunities for those who are in their teens or early twenties. All too often, this band struggles to make enough money in order to survive. The Head of State Award Scheme gives these people hope, by providing them with experiences which not only build character, but also enable them to become skilled in whichever subject takes their interest. This in turn, increases their chances of finding better paying work.

A young woman named Charity serves as a shining example of how effective the scheme is in helping people to uncover their talents, and increase their self confidence. Prior to her participation, Charity was a very quiet and shy girl, who rarely gave much thought to how she could positively impact her school, or her local community. However, as she progressed through each stage of the Award, she became far more interested in helping others. As someone who is familiar with the DofE, Tunde Folawiyo understands how dramatically the volunteer section can affect a person’s outlook. The 70 hours which Charity spent volunteering in the Governmental Hospital made her more aware of, and compassionate towards those suffering from serious illnesses.

The skills which she acquired have also had an enormously positive impact on Charity’s life. As she completed this section at the GBC (Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation), she learned a great deal about things such as TV camera work, and photo journalism. The sports section – which she was initially less than enthused about – turned out to be a very enjoyable experience as well, and led to her not only becoming physically stronger, but also more disciplined and focused.

Folawiyo is a strong proponent of youth development programmes like the DofE. For further information about this entrepreneur, visit Slideshare Tunde Folawiyo page.

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DofE Implements New Online Platform for Participants

With decades of devoted service to the United Kingdom and other countries around the world, the DofE has sought to encourage youth to strive toward a brighter future for the communities that surround them. The organisation provides guidance and support for participants hoping to acquire a variety of important life skills in the years ahead of adulthood. From physical fitness to volunteering, the DofE has long sought to promote optimal self-development in its millions of participants worldwide. Through the continued support of Tunde Folawiyo and countless others, the organisation may continue its work as a leader in youth advocacy.

Tunde FolawiyoIn keeping true to its commitment to provide a beneficial experience for the millions of youth participating in its programme worldwide, the DofE continues to implement new strategies to bring forth great opportunity for participants. The digital platform will hold a variety of unique tools to make the DofE process simpler for both students and facilitators alike. The platform will boast a Record Book to replace paper records, making it possible for participants to easily document their progress. Currently, the online programme is being used by DofE members across countries like Canada, Australia, Kenya, France, India and the United States.

The DofE has long implemented new strategies to provide a better experience for its participants. The new Online Record Book holds a variety of benefits for both students and staff alike, one of which is the level of support offered through the platform. The organisation’s facilitators and other volunteers gain important access to participants’ real-time progress, paving the way for a heightened sense of guidance. Through the online book, leaders of the organisation may better monitor the quality of the experiences of the DofE’s young members. Findings may prove immensely beneficial in the charity’s progression in the future.

Since its establishment nearly six decades ago, the DofE has served as a constant source of encouragement for the character development of today’s youth. Through promoting volunteering, physical fitness, adventurism and other life skills, the charity hopes to forge a long-lasting impact on millions of DofE participants worldwide. In addition to pursuing new technologies to aid in the operation of the charity, it also organises an array of thrilling events to better connect participants with outside supporters, volunteers and surrounding communities. Tunde Folawiyo and others who share the organisation’s quest for change may regard the DofE’s newest technology as a great tool in promoting the goals of the organisation. A bio on Tunde Folawiyo in Business Week expands on his contributions to his community.

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Earning the Duke of Edinburgh Award

Developed in 1956 by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh award is meant to foster the development of physical, practical and social skills in teenagers, and engage them in volunteer projects to better themselves and their communities. The programme resembles the Scout Association and other youth programmes, but does not require any sort of uniform or membership in a particular organisation. From its origins in the UK, the Duke of Edinburgh award and variations thereof are currently dispensed in over 140 countries.

Earning the Duke of Edinburgh award requires achievements in four fields: service, skills, physical recreation and adventurous journey. The Duke of Edinburgh established the award in coordination with Kurt Hahn, a German educator who established a philosophy of youth education that remains influential today. The four categories of achievement the award requires are based on Hahn’s “Six Declines of Modern Youth,” which include declines in imagination, fitness, compassion and skill related to technological changes infiltrating modern life. Hahn wanted to cultivate attitudes of social interest and adventurous spirit in modern youth instead. The first iteration of the programme was administered in part by John Hunt, famous for leading the 1953 British expedition to Mount Everest, the first confirmed successful ascent of the earth’s highest mountain.

Tunde Folawiyo Recent participants have screened films at the Cannes Film Festival, competed in National Geographic Magazine’s Mission Cover Shoot competition, and launched micro-financing campaigns in the Solomon Islands. In 2013, the Duke of Edinburgh charity showed a ten percent increase in new participants, and over one hundred thousand Duke of Edinburgh awards were earned in the UK. The number of global participants is currently tallied at 850,000, with over 8 million total participants in the programme’s fifty-eight year history.

In addition to the program for youths, the organisation also coordinates a network of generous donors who wish to work in the support of youth development worldwide. The Fellowship supplies a capital investment which secures the future of the International Award Association. Founded in 1987, the World Fellowship meets all over the world to promote the organisation. The World Fellowship Anniversary Dinner is held once a year, often at a palace in London. Nigerian businessman Tunde Folawiyo is also a fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh’s World Fellowship. For more information on his work in the business world and elsewhere, readers can see a Tunde Folawiyo executive profile here.

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The Duke of Edinburgh Award: Opportunity, Art and Charity

Tunde Folawiyo With a history spanning over fifty years, the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme has affected the lives of countless youths in the UK and around the world. The programme, commonly called DofE, was started by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. To counteract the modern social forces, described by German educator Kurt Hahn, that were making young adults less imaginative, adventurous, and socially minded, the DofE encourages participants to achieve goals in five categories: volunteer work, physical activity, practical skills, adventurous journey, and a residential category that requires participants to live away from home.

One opportunity for service and adventure approved for the Duke of Edinburgh Award criteria is the Village by Village project, which works to improve lives in rural Ghana. Volunteers can travel to villages untouched by tourism and spend two to four weeks engaged in meaningful service within these communities. Opportunities include working to teach English to children, construction jobs, or serving as a coach for a youth football team. Roles as photographers, videographers, business advisors and healthcare workers are also available. The charity was founded by Neil Kerfoot in 2006, with the goal of reaching one hundred villages by 2016.

The non-profit organisation ‘Films Without Borders’ is another group working within Africa that is independently affiliated with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation. ‘Films Without Borders’ works in Rwanda, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere with the goal of giving teachers the training required to teach schoolchildren the basics of film, so that students are then able to produce their own short films. ‘Films Without Borders’ then brings this work to a global audience, as one film is selected from each country to go on to an international film festival, along with the student team that produced it. The goal of the organisation is to unite young people from all over the world, and to help them overcome their differences through the medium of storytelling.

The DofE is supported by a global network that gathers at events globally to promote the programme, including at an exclusive World Fellowship Anniversary Dinner, usually held in a London palace. The Duke of Edinburgh’s World Fellowship represents just a few of the award’s many supporters, including Tunde Folawiyo, who admire the efforts of the Foundation to encourage the enrichment of youth worldwide. Readers interested in Tunde Folawiyo’s work can interests can find YouTube videos from Tunde Folawiyo online.

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Duke of Edinburgh Award Continues Inspiring Youth

Tunde FolawiyoAt an exclusive gala at Windsor Castle sponsored by the Halcyon Gallery, the Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship recently celebrated twenty-seven years of inspiring world youth. From its founding in the UK, it since has spread in various versions to 140 additional countries. Young people worldwide are participating in the program, and community leaders, in business, politics and education, are doing their part to support the programme globally. Supporters of the Duke of Edinburgh Award are dedicated to the enrichment of young people, including Tunde Folawiyo. Those interested can view this Tunde Folawiyo profile.

Award holders include 22-year-old Vionaver Booysen, of South Africa, who has earned all three awards available in the programme: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Booysen was raised in a situation of adversity, but felt a strong desire to work to make a better life for the people in her community. She became involved in a community-action organisation, of which she is now the Assistant Youth Coordinator. She remains active in The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment, the form the Duke of Edinburgh award has taken in South Africa.

Patricia Yeboah, a young woman from Ghana, used her work with the Duke of Edinburgh award to focus on issues faced by women in her local community. In Ghana, women have higher rates of illiteracy and fewer employment opportunities than men. Yeboah addresses the roles of women in her community by organising a photography club for young women. The group meets weekly to share their photography and their experiences, with half the costs of film printing covered by the Head of State Award, which is Ghana’s iteration of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The local school, which provides a space for the group to meet, says that the program is having a visible impact on the students’ well-being. Yeboah’s work has also increased local participation in the Head of State Award program.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award programme continues to grow. The World Fellowship promotes the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which was founded in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to award young people for living lives of service, acquiring skills, and learning about the world through travel and adventure. The programme has attracted over eight million participants worldwide.

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How the DofE is changing lives in Kenya

Tunde FolawiyoThose who know of the DofE, like Tunde Folawiyo, will probably be aware of the profound impact which this programme has had on many Kenyans. It has helped hundreds of people in this country to develop the skills and traits which they need to create a better life for themselves and their communities. Take for instance, Olunga Otieno; as a result of his involvement with the DofE, he went from living in poverty, to having a successful career in education.

Raised in one of Nairobi’s largest slums, Soweto, he faced a huge number of challenges growing up, and it was often difficult for him to find the money for basic necessities, such as food and school fees. However, despite these obstacles, he worked hard in class, and managed to achieve excellent exam results.

Olunga discovered the DofE (or President’s Award, as it is known in Kenya) whilst attending St Justino’s Secondary School. He immediately signed up, and progressed through each stage, until finally, he received his gold award. This accomplishment served as a stepping stone for Olunga, providing him with one opportunity after another, and helping him to achieve his professional goals. Shortly after completing the award, Olunga undertook training to become a voluntary assessor for the expedition section.

This work for the DofE then led to him receiving a nomination for a youth delegate position at the IGE (International Gold Event), held in Mauritius. This in turn, resulted in Olunga being chosen as a youth representative for Africa on the DofE’s International Council.  He then chose to train as a secondary school teacher, and now works with many youths around Kenya, particularly those who are living in impoverished areas of Nairobi.

In addition to teaching at a local secondary school, Olunga also works as a youth development expert, mentor and speaker. Having experienced first-hand the power of having a support system like the DofE, he now aims to offer the same guidance to young people who are trying to find a way out of the poverty cycle. He is a member of both Strategic Think Tank, and the Africa Regional Training Panel for the DofE International Foundation, and his years of dedication have won him the IAA’s Bronze Friend Award. Tunde Folawiyo, and others who are familiar with the IAA, will understand what an honour it is to receive this prize. Olunga also helps people via other personal development programmes, such as ‘The Best You’ and ‘Clarity 4D’, and works with corporations, assisting them with things like coaching workshops and youth leadership training.

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The growing role of the internet within the DofE programme

The DofE is known primarily for its ‘real life’ activities, which have a tangible impact on the lives of both the participants, and their local communities. Up until recently, the internet played a relatively minor role in this programme, having been used mainly for promotional purposes. However, this has started to change, as the DofE committee, and the individual Award participants, are now beginning to see the many ways in which the online world can help them to develop and improve upon the existing programme.

Tunde FolawiyoThose who are familiar with the DofE, such as Tunde Folawiyo, are probably aware that the integration of the internet into its operations is proving to be particularly beneficial in Africa. Take, for instance, Joram Otieno, a man who helps to run the DofE in Kenya. As an external relations coordinator, he is now managing the new online platform through which the Award committee are training leaders.

Otieno believes that this new way of teaching leaders will ‘revolutionise’ the DofE, by not only attracting more candidates, but also by making the monitoring of their training more efficient and effective. There will be far less physical management and paperwork processing to be done, and this in turn will free up the committee’s time, allowing it to expand the Award around other parts of Kenya.

Programme participants in South Africa are also making use of the internet to achieve their award goals. Duncan Vanniekerk is one such example. He noticed that there were several corporations that were claiming to have helped those living in disadvantaged communities, but in reality, had simply used ineffective one-day sponsorships to improve their public image.

He set about creating a project which would convince organisations to commit to helping people in these areas on a more long-term basis. The online platform which he developed, called ‘Sponsor Me’, enables groups to post their charitable and developmental initiatives on the net. Companies can then go through the website and select a project, which they can then sponsor for a specified amount of time. It had been very successful, and is a site which most people, including Tunde Folawiyo, are likely to have heard of.

Vanniekerks’ online efforts enabled him to complete his DofE Award, had a profound impact on many South African communities, and resulted in him continuing in this field of work after he finished the programme. His involvement inspired him to continue to focus on youth development, and led to him participating in a Youth Parliament session. He also join VOSESA (the Volunteer and Service Enquiry Southern Africa) as a youth leader, and attended one of their conferences, at which, he discussed the expansion of programmes around the country and, he said, became even more inspired about youth development.

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Tunde Folawiyo | DofE Gold Award: Embarking on a Residential Project

Tunde FolawiyoThe DofE has served as an enormous means of encouragement since its establishment, inspiring millions of young people throughout the world to explore optimal self-discovery. In keeping true to its commitments to foster the future success of promising youth around the UK and beyond, the DofE employs a variety of requirements for participants to complete in order to be awarded the prestigious award. Tunde Folawiyo and many other supporters of the DofE may find the Residential requirement most exciting for participants to undertake. The Gold Award requirement is intended to awaken a renewed sense of confidence for those participating.

In addition to the four sections required to be awarded the DofE, the Residential section is a requirement only for those striving for Gold. The trek involves participants embarking on 5 day, 4 night trip that will revolve around meeting and cohabitating with a group of people whom they have never met. This results in an enhanced sense of empathy and an appreciation for other cultures. A fulfilling experience for all of those involved, the Residential section encourages learning new skills and assisting others toward a common goal. From snowboarding in Scotland to working closely alongside children’s camps, there are a wide range of ways for participants to forge an impact on society.

The experiences to be had during a Residential Project have been described as extremely fulfilling. DofE participants may download a variety of resources from the organisation’s website in order to prepare for the thrilling adventures that lay ahead. From residential project ideas to requirements check-lists, DofE staff hold all the information needed to initiate this great undertaking. Gold Award hopefuls are responsible for planning their trip alongside an Assessor. Once activities and goals have been approved by a designated Leader, participants are able to begin this great step toward self-discovery.

Since its establishment over a half century ago, the DofE has sought to encourage youth toward bright futures for not only themselves, but their surrounding communities as well. Through promoting life skills like fitness, leadership, volunteering and a thirst for adventure, young people throughout the world may continue to forge true impact upon their respective countries. From the United States to South Africa, the diversity of the organisation’s participants continues to inspire people all over the globe. Tunde Folawiyo and others hoping to provide a better future for Africa may find the DofE’s Residential project to be amongst the charity’s greatest programmes.