history and development

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Tunde Folawiyo | The Founding of the Distinguished Duke of Edinburgh Award

Tunde FolawiyoFounded by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, the DofE has long inspired millions of young people around the globe. The programme was established to serve as a positive influence for young boys, though girls were later introduced to the charity’s teachings. Promoting a variety of paramount life skills such as public service, fitness, expeditions and the thirst for new skill, the DofE shall ever serve as a positive influence in the lives of youth throughout the United Kingdom, Africa and beyond. Tunde Folawiyo and others with similar goals to encourage the self-discovery of today’s promising youth may be fascinated by the rich history of the DofE and how it has over time impacted the lives of millions.

During February of 1956, the DofE made its debut, targeted first at boys from the ages 15 to 18. It was designed largely by retired Army member John Hunt, who had also led the first club up Mount Everest during 1953. The Award was intended to attract youth who were uninterested in joining other youth movements aiming to foster the proper upbringing of the nation’s youth. Their first Award ceremony took place during 1956. Since then, the DofE has continued its mission of spreading goodwill and encouraging the further development of the next generation of young leaders.

The number of DofE programmes, as well as its population of participants has grown with each year since its founding in 1956. As of the year 2013, approximately 300,000 youth were participating in the charity’s programmes, utilising over 11,000 Award centres throughout the United Kingdom. These designated locations include youth clubs, schools and businesses. Today, more than five million young people throughout the UK had participated in the distinguished DofE programme, with the total amounting to eight million worldwide, demonstrating the wide scope the organisation has reached in their efforts to improve conditions for communities across the world.

Since its establishment, the DofE’s rich history of goodwill has been commended throughout the world. By providing a source of encouragement and guidance for its participants, the charity will remain a much valued entity in the quest to promote optimal self-discovery amongst youth. Tunde Folawiyo and others wishing to forge a lasting impact on today’s young people may contribute to the DofE so that it may continue to fulfill its mission of a brighter future for millions around the globe and the communities that they call home.

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Tunde Folawiyo | History of the Duke of Edinburgh Award

Since its establishment in 1956, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has proudly served the UK and other countries throughout the world as a means of encouragement. A beacon of hope for young people everywhere, the DofE continues to garner the support of worldwide advocates such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others.

Tunde FolawiyoWhile the DofE is today one of the world’s foremost organisations for youth development, its beginnings are less recognised. Founded by a small team of esteemed professionals, the DofE was conceived as a way of motivating and inspiring boys aged 15 to 18 to strive towards a strong sense of self during the often difficult years between adolescence and adulthood.

But although the DofE began with a focus on the betterment of young boys, it went on to accept both genders, with the girls’ scheme founded in 1958. In 1957 the age limit was raised to 19, gradually increasing before ultimately settling at 25. The changes paved the way for a new group of young adults striving to make a difference in their communities.

Over the years the DofE has grown exponentially into the internationally recognised programme it is today, reaching over 300,000 youths in over 120 countries throughout the world. In keeping true to its core values, the DofE continues to vigorously promote the areas of volunteering, unique skills, physical fitness and expeditions to encourage today’s young people to strive for a brighter tomorrow.

DofE participants must complete a range of training sessions and comprehensive assessments to demonstrate a great understanding of each section. With the exceptional guidance of their mentors, participants gain the information and leadership skills necessary to effectively accomplish the tasks at hand. DofE participants need to demonstrate their integrity in all that they do, from undertaking exciting activities to participating in charity work aimed at assisting their surrounding communities.

There are three DofE levels, with many participants judging the Gold level to be the most exciting. For this level participants take part in a Residential Project, embarking on an adventurous journey that sees them encountering new people, experiences and an unfamiliar environment vastly different to their own. Through the Residential Project, participants accomplish unique goals in order to gain a worldly perspective that undoubtedly leads to greater empathy and understanding of other cultures.

With the ongoing encouragement of the programme’s supporters, including Tunde Folawiyo, the DofE will continue fostering the development of bright young minds throughout the world.

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Tunde Folawiyo | The Duke of Edinburgh Award: How to Apply

As one the UK’s foremost charities, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to encourage millions of young people towards optimal personal growth and responsibility. Armed with the continued support of advocates such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the UK and beyond, the DofE strives to forge an impact on our youth’s quest for greatness, self-reliance and the strength to overcome adversity.

Tunde FolawiyoThe DofE programme consists of four mandatory sections required for completion. Physical fitness, skill, volunteering and adventurous journey are all found within the teachings of the DofE. With three levels of Award – bronze, silver and gold – participants are urged to reach their fullest potential. Through a non-competitive process, participants may focus on their achievements without concerns of rivalry.

In order to apply to the DofE, participants must first register with a licensed operator. Participants of the programme must be aged between 14 and 25 in order to be considered. With the guidance of DofE mentors, students must determine which level they wish to complete. Throughout the course of the programme, DofE coordinators will serve as a most helpful source of support, therefore a strong bond with participants is of great importance.

Once a DofE applicant has received his/her record book and chosen their assessors, the activities may begin. Another highly important aspect of the DofE programme is for participants to keep in contact with their assessors and coordinators to ensure guidance throughout the entire process. Assessments are carried out on completion of each stage.

The fitness (physical recreation) section of the DofE programme is centred on a quest to promote positive body image and the importance of both emotional and physical health. Whether through participation in an exciting team sport or individual exercise, spreading awareness of the benefits of fitness is among the DofE’s top goals.

The skills section of the DofE programme sees participants showcase their unique talents. As part of this, they are encouraged to broaden their capabilities by embracing new, interesting activities. Volunteering is another fundamental principle promoted by the DofE. Participants are urged to partake in charity work and environmental work in order to wholly grasp the significance of caring for our planet and fellow man.

While taking part in the programme’s adventurous journey section, participants are encouraged to document their travels via personal photos, video recordings and sound tracks. Through these ongoing initiatives and the continued encouragement of programme supporters such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others, the DofE will continue to motivate exceptional youths for years to come.

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Tunde Folawiyo | Amey Partners with The Duke of Edinburgh Award

In keeping true to its commitment to guiding today’s youth toward bright futures, the Duke of Edinburgh Award welcomes Amey, one of the UK’s foremost leading public and regulated service providers as a pioneer partner in their Tunde Folawiyoefforts to promote goodwill among young people around the globe. Through the continual support of the many proponents of the charity including Tunde Folawiyo, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and its partnership with Amey will serve as a great source of inspiration for millions of students throughout the world.

The prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award has long inspired today’s brightest students and, as an organisation, continues to implement new initiatives in order to ensure these goals come to fruition. These efforts are none more evident than in the vast number of proud students who have successfully completed the programme since its establishment. The new national agreement brought forth by the organisation’s partnership with Amey will assist in allowing over 165,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in the teachings of the D of E across the UK and beyond. This exciting partnership stems from a close 12-year relationship with the D of E in which Amey has provided an immeasurable amount of support for students of the DofE and the charity’s goals as a whole. Through their efforts, over 220 apprentices are currently taking part in the programme with 36 apprentices have completed the Award requirements to date. In addition to their contributions to the D of E, Amey as a company promotes passion for community involvement within their employees, further demonstrating a commitment to the spread of goodwill.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is composed of four mandatory sections including fitness, skill, volunteering and adventurous journey. Participants must prove a great understanding of each in order to merit the prestigious award. Through a host of comprehensive exams and presentations, prospects will demonstrate excellence in a variety of areas to ensure their preparedness in initiating social change. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Duke of Edinburgh Award relies heavily on the continual encouragement and monetary support of various individuals and organisations in order to successfully maintain the operations of the programme. Those interested in contributing to the Duke of Edinburgh Award are encouraged to visit the organisation’s website at https://www.dofe.org/en/content/cms/supportus/.

Through numerous partnerships and the ongoing support of the programme’s proponents such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the world, the Duke of Edinburgh Award will continue to motivate and inspire young students to reach for a better tomorrow for the communities that surround them.

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International developments in the DofE | Tunde Folawiyo

Over the past six decades, the Duke of Edinburgh Award has become one of the UK’s most successful youth development programmes. Those who are familiar with the DofE, like Tunde Folawiyo, will probably know that its popularity overseas has also increased considerably in recent years; today, more than 120 countries participate in the DofE.Tunde Folawiyo

The enthusiasm for this award abroad has been astounding, with the participating nations taking a very active and engaged approach to their involvement. In Australia for instance, a brand new DofE committee has just been formed in Queensland. Those appointed will be expected to not only promote the award itself, but also to oversee all aspects of the programme, so as to ensure that everything – from the fundraising, to the supervising of activities – goes according to plan.

The committee members will hold these positions until December of 2015. This development was announced by John-Paul Langbroek, who serves as the Australian Education, Training and Employment Minister. Speaking to the press about the committee, Langbroek stated that he hoped these newly appointed people would bring ‘fresh ideas’ which will improve the quality of the programme.

As a supporter of youth development, Tunde Folawiyo might be aware that whilst Australia has been involved in the DofE for several decades, other countries like Bulgaria are still relative newcomers to the award, having first joined just five years ago. The programme was introduced to Bulgaria via an organisation called Future Now 2006, but only received its conditional license last month.

The bestowing of this license took place in the capital, Sofia; Jonathan Allen, the Queen’s Ambassador for Bulgaria was in attendance at this event. In a blog post he later published, he explained that this was not merely a work obligation he had to fulfil, but a ‘personal pleasure’, as he himself had taken part in the programme during his teens, and had learned a number of important lessons as a result of this participation. The President of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev, also attended the event, so as to show his support for the award. It is hoped that the launching of this programme in Bulgaria will help young Bulgarians to achieve their professional aspirations, and encourage them to become more involved in the charity sector, which is reliant upon voluntary workers.

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History of the Duke of Edinburgh Award | Tunde Folawiyo

With a long-standing reputation of excellence, the Duke of Edinburgh Award has served as a beacon of hope and self-improvement for youngsters across the world. With the outstanding support of its proponents including Tunde Folawiyo, the Duke of Edinburgh Award continues to inspire today’s generation of bright young students. Since its founding in 1956, the programme has grown into an Tunde Folawiyointernationally recognised programme that now reaches more than 300,000 young people in more than 120 countries throughout the world. In keeping true to the goals set forth by the award’s founders, participants are encouraged to reach for excellence in all aspects of life including personal growth, perseverance, self-reliance and a commitment of service to their community, as well as other communities throughout the world.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is focused on promoting the areas of volunteering, physical fitness, unique skills and expeditions in its efforts to encourage today’s youth toward striving for a better tomorrow. Participants must accomplish a variety of trainings and comprehensive assessments in order to prove a great understanding of the tasks at hand. With three levels of the award to be completed, participants are encouraged to reach their fullest potential, pushing them toward a quest for excellence. In order to ensure the charity’s founding principles are upheld, applicants must prove their understanding of four mandatory sections focused on personal success including fitness, skill, volunteering and adventurous journey. Research has shown several improvements upon completion of the programme. Recipients of the award have experienced enhanced social inclusion, gender equality, the reduction of violence and an increased participation in civic life in addition to an enhanced sense of health and overall well-being.

Whilst participants of the programme must complete several tasks to merit the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the challenges surrounding the Gold Level are said by many to be the most exciting to undertake. Dubbed “The Residential Project”, participants are encouraged to embark on an adventurous journey, leading to encounters with new people and experiences vastly different to those they’ve grown accustomed to. Participants must accomplish a unique set of goals in order to gain a worldly perspective that will inevitably lead to a profound appreciation and understanding of other cultures throughout the world. Through the continued support of the programme’s proponents, including Tunde Folawiyo, the Duke of Edinburgh Award will continue to foster the development of bright young minds toward the ultimate goal of self-discovery.

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How the DofE established itself overseas | Tunde Folawiyo

Just a few short years after the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was launched in the UK, word of this exciting new youth development programme began to spread overseas. A number of schools in other countries started to take an interest in it, and with some careful planning and preparation, their students were able to participate.

The trend of foreign schools and organisations joining in the DofE, and creating their own versions of this programme, continued to grow and by the early eighties, the DofE committee in the UK decided that it was time to hold an International Forum. In total, nineteen delegates attended; after lengthy discussions on the best ways to develop the programme overseas, they decided to re-designate the International Secretariat. Not long after this, they established the DofE International Award Association, whose work is now carried out by the highly-respected DofE International Award Foundation – a charity which Tunde Folawiyo may be familiar with.

Tunde FolawiyoThese two organisations have made is considerably easier for young people around the world to get involved with the DofE. Currently, the programme has more than 850,000 participants worldwide, and since the DofE was first launched, approximately 8 million people have completed their bronze, silver and gold level activities.

Today, the staff at the DofE International Award Foundation work tirelessly to promote this programme in over 140 countries, giving young people the opportunity to participate – regardless of their circumstances or background – and preserving the integrity of the award itself. Whilst the Foundation has already achieved a great deal in this respect, its staff intend to help even more people to get involved. Their new business plan will enable the Foundation to raise awareness of the DofE in countries where it has not yet been launched and continue to improve the quality of the programme itself, both in the UK and abroad.

Those who are aware of this programme, like Tunde Folawiyo, might know that the Countess and Earl of Wessex have also been doing their part to promote the DofE around the world, with the former having recently been named as the DofE International Award’s Global Ambassador. The couple have set off on a journey which will take them to the USA in late February, and Barbados and Jamaica at the beginning of March. Throughout the past 12 months, the Countess and the Earl have travelled to many other countries on behalf of the DofE International Award, including Zambia, South Africa, Canada and Hong Kong.

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Who supports the DofE programme? | Tunde Folawiyo

Each year, more than 300,000 people get involved in the DofE programme, and in doing so, develop skills and character traits which will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Available to everyone between the ages of 14 and 25, the DofE helps young people to reach their full potential, boost their career prospects and get a head start in life.

None of this would be possible without the help of its volunteers, and the financial support provided by organisations like the Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship. The latter was established 27 years ago, in a bid to ensure that the DofE programme would be available for many generations to come. Its fellows, which include Tunde Folawiyo, are aware of the many fundraising events that are held throughout the year to support the programme, all of which are organised by the Fellowship committee.

The generosity of Tunde Folawiyothose involved in the Fellowship has been instrumental in the evolution of the DofE; as a result of their donations, it has become one of the most renowned youth development programmes in the world. Prior to the founding of the Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship in the late eighties, the DofE relied almost entirely upon the somewhat sporadic donations provided by individuals living in the UK. The limitations of this small budget made it difficult for the DofE committee to expand its programme, and it was only when the World Fellowship was launched that the programme truly began to make waves internationally.

But of course, the financial donations made by the Fellowship could not be put to good use, if it were not for the tireless dedication of the DofE volunteers, many of whom have spent years helping the participants in this programme. Supporters of the DofE, including Tunde Folawiyo, understand how hard these people work. Volunteers serve in a variety of roles, depending on their particular skill sets, with some working as leaders on expeditions, and others assisting with fundraising or administrative tasks.

In order to make sure that volunteers have the necessary qualifications and knowledge to support participants, many are given training sessions, the cost of which is usually covered, in part, by the DofE. Virtually everyone who chooses to volunteer with this programme finds it to be an exceptionally rewarding experience, as they have the opportunity to meet new people, have new experiences, and travel around the country.

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History of The Duke of Edinbugh’s Award | Tunde Folawiyo

Introduced in the United Kingdom in 1956, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has long served as a beacon of inspiration for youth across the world due in part to its many supporters, including those such as Tunde Folawiyo. Created by a small team of esteemed professionals, the award first began as a means to motivate boys aged between 15 and 18 to strive toward personal growth in the often difficult years between adolescence and adulthood. It is now opened to both genders as a girls’ scheme was launched in 1958. In 1957, the upper age limit was increased to 19 and gradually increased before settling at 25 in 1980, paving the way for a new era of young adults striving to make a difference.

Since its founding in 1956, the programme has grown into an internationally recognised programme that now reaches more than 300,000 young people in over 120 countries throughout the world. While the mission and goals of the Award are uniform internationally, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award carries many different titles including The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; The President’s Award; The National Youth Achievement Award and The International Award for Young People.

Tunde FolawiyoThe Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is focused on promoting the areas of volunteering, physical fitness, unique skills and expeditions to encourage today’s youth toward a better tomorrow. Participants must accomplish a variety of trainings and successfully complete comprehensive assessments in order to prove a vast understanding of that particular subject. It’s through the guidance of mentors called “Assessors” and “Coordinators” that participants are provided the information and leadership needed to effectively accomplish each task at hand. From embracing new, exciting activities and taking part in organising and carrying out charity work to benefit surrounding communities, young people in the programme are held to a high standard of integrity.

Whilst there are various levels of accomplishment in regards to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the challenges set forth by the Gold Level are perhaps the most exciting to undertake. Deemed “The Residential Project” participants are encouraged to embark on an adventurous journey in which they will encounter new people and experience an unfamiliar environment vastly different to their own. Through the Residential Project, participants will meet new people, accomplish unique goals and explore life in an unfamiliar environment in order to gain a worldly perspective that will lead to empathy and understanding of other cultures. Through the continued encouragement of the programmes supporters, including Tunde Folawiyo, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award will continue to foster the development of bright young minds throughout the world.

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Applying to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award | Tunde Folawiyo

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has long inspired millions of students to explore personal growth and responsibility. Through the encouragement of supporters including Tunde Folawiyo, the Duke of Edinburgh’s World Fellowship continues to assist our generation’s youth in striving for greatness in all aspects of life including personal discovery, self-reliance, perseverance and service to their community.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme consists of four mandatory sections focused on personal success including fitness, skill, volunteering and adventurous journey. With three levels of Award to be accomplished, participants are encouraged to reach their fullest potential. As a non-competitive process, participants are able to fully focus on their achievements without worry of rivalry.

To apply to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, students must begin by registering with a licensed operator. Participants must be between the ages of 14 and 25 in order to be considered. Upon this, students must determine which level of the award they wish to complete. A coordinator with the organisation will serve as a most helpful source of guidance throughout the duration of the process, so it’s of great importance that students form a trusted bond with this individual.

Upon the applicant receiving his/her record book and choosing Assessors, the activities can then begin. Another important aspect of this process is to keep in contact with Assessors and Tunde FolawiyoCoordinators to ensure guidance throughout the entire way. After each area is complete, an assessment will take place and after completion, the section can then be marked as achieved.

The fitness, or physical recreation section of the programme revolves around fostering a positive body image and quest for health. Whether through a team sport or individual exercise, promoting health is among the Award’s top goals.

During the skills section of the programme, participants are urged to showcase their unique talent and broaden their capabilities, embracing new and interesting activities they may have not considered before.

Volunteering is another major aspect promoted by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Participants are urged to take part in charity work or environmental work to fully grasp the significance of caring for fellow man.

While taking part in the adventurous journeys of this training period, students are encouraged to document their experiences via photos, videos and sound tracks. Once these areas are completed, a final assessment will be administered after which the section may then be marked complete. Through these initiatives and the ongoing encouragement provided by supporters of the programme such as Tunde Folawiyo, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award will continue to motivate youth for years to come.