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Tunde Folawiyo | DofE to host Clay Shoot at Windsor Great Park in June

As an organisation, the Duke of Edinburgh Award continually strives to bridge the gap between young people and their communities. The goals of the DofE revolve around encouraging youth throughout the globe to explore the world around them as they embark on the ultimate journey to self-discovery. On Thursday 12th June 2014, the DofE will host a Clay Shoot to be held at Windsor Great Park. Events such as these serve as a wonderful means of togetherness, a great opportunity to join students and DofE advocates for a day of fun. Tunde Folawiyo and countless other DofE proponents throughout the world may participate in these events to gain a better perspective of the organisation’s ongoing mission of a brighter future for millions of youth around the world.

Tunde Folawiyo The DofE is currently the only charity granted permission to hold a shoot at the Great Park by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Regardless of shooting experience, students, clients, colleagues and friends are all invited to participate in the day’s thrilling events. The day will begin with breakfast, followed by a shooting competition. A three course lunch will follow, after which an award ceremony honouring the day’s winning teams will take place. Additionally, there will be an auction to raise money for the DofE.

Throughout its history as an organisation, the DofE have employed a variety of methods to ensure a wonderful experience for their thousands of participants yearly. Through volunteering, physical fitness, harvesting skills and participating in adventurous journeys, DofE participants are expected to gain a worldly perspective of the issues to be encountered by the communities that surround them. As one of the world’s foremost charities for youth development, the DofE remains a highly respected organisation within the United Kingdom and several other nations around the world. DofE sponsored events such as June’s Clay Shoot serve an invaluable purpose of teaching young students new skills and encouraging them to remain active and involved with others in their communities.

For more information about the Clay Shoot or how you can further contribute to the DofE’s mission, please contact Tori by e-mailing Tori.Griffiths@dofe.org or by phoning 0207 798 2882. Tunde Folawiyo and countless others have already lent their support to the DofE and its thousands of worldwide participants. Through these continued efforts and the assistance of other valued advocates, the DofE will continue to forge a positive impact upon millions throughout the world.

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Tunde Folawiyo | How the DofE is reducing crime rates in South Africa

Anyone who is familiar with the DofE, like Tunde Folawiyo, is probably aware of the fact that its introduction in South Africa has benefitted many people; the work of participants has had a ripple effect, resulting in incredible changes not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of those around them. Take for instance, Ross McCreath, a teen who joined the DofE (or the President’s Award for Youth Empowerment, as it is known in SA) a few years ago.

Ross noticed that there were a worryingly large number of youths in the Nolukhanyo township involved in criminal activities. He decided to create a diversion of sorts, which would help his peers to channel their energy into something more positive. He formed a cricket team, got in touch with the local authorities to hire out a playing field, and began to arrange matches.

Shortly after the 40 team members began to practice, crime rates in the township started to drop. In addition to helping local teens, and making his community safer, Ross’s efforts also allowed him to complete his Gold Award. At the end of his DofE journey, he travelled to London for a celebratory event, during which he and other Gold Award recipients were given the opportunity to share their stories. Both the Duke of Edinburgh and the founder of the South African branch of the DofE attended this occasion; in his speech, the Duke praised Ross, stating that he was greatly impressed by all of his hard work. Tunde Folawiyo

It might surprise Tunde Folawiyo, and other supporters of the DofE, that this is just one of many examples in which the DofE has helped to lower crime rates in South Africa; an Award Leader named Sharene has also spoken of how effective the programme has been at helping young offenders to turn their lives around. Having served in a number of capacities within the Department of Correctional Services, she has seen firsthand just how much of an impact the Award has had on teens.

Those who choose to undertake their DofE whilst finishing their sentences at juvenile correctional facilities can get involved in a huge number of activities; depending on their particular interests; they can renovate buildings, take art classes, play a sport or learn an important life skill, such as conflict resolution. Sharene says that the teens who finished their Award in this way seemed to develop a far more optimistic outlook, and were less inclined to return to criminal activities after being released.

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Tunde Folawiyo | DofE success stories from Ghana

Whilst each country has its own amazing DofE success stories, the accomplishments of those who have completed the programme in Ghana are particularly impressive. Emmanuel Odoi Laryea, for example, chose to set up a plantation business for the Skills section of his Award. Using the knowledge he acquired during his time with the DofE, he managed to create a very successful company, which is still in operation today.

Tunde FolawiyoThe business has done wonders for the local community, providing several young people with jobs; currently, Emmanuel has 25 full-time employees, as well as dozens of temporary workers, who join the team during the harvest season. The plantation grows tick trees, which are chopped up and used for the construction of housing and electrical poles. In addition to running this enterprise, Emmanuel also works as a volunteer for the DofE in Ghana, serving as the Head of Programmes and Administration.

Judith Otabel and Jones Viduku are two other participants whose involvement in the DofE has resulted in significant improvements in the lives of many Ghanaian people. After some research, they observed that the schools in the village of Pepease had extremely low attendance rates. Those with an interest in education, such as Tunde Folawiyo, understand how serious an issue this is. Jones and Judith decided that they would work towards creating educational opportunities for the children in this village, as part of the Adventurous Journey Section of their Silver Award.

Initially, they carried out a house-to-house promotional campaign, which focused on helping parents to appreciate the value of education. Following the completion of this activity, they then served as teaching assistants in the primary school, and raised funds which were subsequently used to purchase learning aids and essential school materials.

Their initiative was a resounding success, with attendance rates soaring within a matter of months. Judith and Jones’ work led to them being nominated for a prestigious award known as the Peter Cruddas Social Innovation Initiative. This prize is one which most people, including Tunde Folawiyo, are familiar with; it recognises the most outstanding enterprises created by Gold DofE participants. Only those whose projects can be classed as exceptionally socially innovative, in regards to their engagement with local communities, sustainability or ethical values, are eligible for consideration.

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The Duke of Edinburgh Award Collaborates with Village by Village

As one of the world’s foremost proponents of youth development, The Duke of Edinburgh Award continues to implement new strategies to aid its mission of encouraging young people to strive toward greatness in all aspects of life. These initiatives can be seen through the DofE’s valued partnerships with various organisations throughout the UK and beyond, propelling the opportunity for social change with the potential to impact the lives of millions of today’s youth and the communities that surround them. With the aid of DofE supporter Tunde Folawiyo and countless others, the organisation will continue to flourish, utilising new tools to further its goals along the way.

Tunde FolawiyoA main focus of The Duke of Edinburgh Award is promoting an appreciation for charity and community service and as part of the programme, participants will be required to display an understanding of the importance of aiding fellow man. The DofE welcomes students to evoke positive change by empowering communities in rural villages in Ghana, Africa.

Village by Village, a DofE Approved Activity Provider is a professional charity that whilst based in the UK, focuses on offering aid to areas within Africa. Working in partnership with citizens of Ghana, West Africa, the organisation builds wells, improves sanitation and offers scholarship opportunities for children throughout the country. In collaboration with The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Village by Village offers Residential opportunities for participants to use during the process of completing the DofE’s Gold Award programme. Fundraising efforts used to fund projects in Ghana may also be put forth in successfully achieving the Volunteering portion of the Award.

Village by Village also offers Gap Month Residential Trips, giving young students and adults the opportunity to volunteer within the poverty-stricken areas of Ghana. Volunteers will work in remote rural regions and as such, there are a variety of roles for prospective volunteers to consider. Some of these roles include teaching English to children, construction work, sports coaching and healthcare duties. Each of these roles is invaluable in aiding the people of Ghana, whether by giving them hope through fun activities or teaching them skills and techniques they may have not yet been exposed to. One-hundred percent of money raised by volunteers goes directly to the charity, ensuring funds are sufficiently distributed toward aid efforts. Through the continued support from the DofE, proponents of the organisation such as Tunde Folawiyo and countless others throughout Africa and beyond, Village by Village will continue to create positive change throughout the less fortunate areas of West Africa.

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D of E success stories from across the African continent | Tunde Folawiyo

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been up and running in many African countries for several decades now. Supporters of this type of programme, such as Tunde Folawiyo, are probably aware that over the years, the D of E has provided countless numbers of young people with the guidance they needed to overcome Tunde Folawiyodifficulties in their lives, and discover their talents and abilities. Here, we’ll be discussing the experiences of two youths from Kenya and South Africa, whose involvement in the D of E helped them to flourish, in spite of the challenging circumstances in which they grew up.

In Kenya, the award is known as ‘PA-K’ or the President’s Award-Kenya. Throughout the last 48 years, the programme has helped many young Kenyans to develop important life skills that have helped them to not only make positive changes in their own lives, but to also make a difference in the lives of those around them.  Take for example, Julius Irungu Krush; this young man grew up in complete poverty, residing in the Mathare slums, where there was often no electricity or running water.

During his childhood and teens, Julius has no role models or authority figures in his life that he could look up to, or seek advice from. Discussing his upbringing, he explained that by the time he reached his teens, he began to feel as if there were no hope for the future – an opinion which changed quite dramatically when he discovered the award programme.

In particular, it was the Service activities which spurred Julius on, and made him feel far more optimistic about life. Tunde Folawiyo, and others who are familiar with the D of E, understand how valuable this particular aspect of the programme can be. Through the Services section, Julius discovered a passion for community work, and set up an initiative called Raising Hope, which focuses on mentoring children living in the Mathare slums, and helping them to cope with the problems they face in their environment. Julius’ experience in the programme inspired him to return to it, as a voluntary leader, after he completed his activities and received his Gold award.

A similar story was shared by a South African participant named Vionaver Booysen, at a D of E event held in Franschhoek last year. The programme here is called the President’s Award for Youth Empowerment, and has been in operation for over three decades. Vionaver Booysen grew up in a poor neighbourhood call Hanover, where the opportunities for education and employment were virtually non-existent.

But rather than allowing her situation to determine her future, Vionaver decided to take action. She joined the award programme, and began to work on a project called CASE (Community Action towards a Safer Environment) which focuses on improving the living conditions of the residents of Hanover. After becoming a Gold award recipient, Vionaver went back to work for CASE full-time, as a Youth Co-ordinator.

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The growing network of DofE programmes in Africa | Tunde Folawiyo

The D of E has proven to be very popular in Africa; there are now 20 independent award centres, and 21 national operators across the continent. In South Africa, the programme is known as the President’s Award for Youth Empowerment, and is run with the help of volunteer leaders. Much like the D of E in the UK, the primary goal of the award here is to offer young people the structure and support they need to develop their unique talents, and boost their self-esteem. Those running the President’s Award place the emphasis on personal development, rather than competitiveness, and encourage participants to focus on fulfilling their own aspirations, rather than worrying about competing with others.

Tunde Folawiyo
In Nigeria – the homeland of Tunde Folawiyo – the D of E is called the Nigerian National Youth Award, and is run by Dr. Jophia Gupar. The Bronze and the Silver awards here are called the Chairman’s and the Governor’s awards, respectively. However, aside from the titles, the programme itself is very similar to the one run in the UK, with four main categories of activities at each level; Adventurous Journey, Physical Recreation, Skills and Services.

It was originally introduced during the seventies by General Yakubu Gowon (the Head of State at that time); however, it wasn’t until 1986 that the programme was officially launched by President Ibrahim Babangida. Eleven years later, Nigeria set up its own independent award centre, with the help of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Tunde Folawiyo, and others who are familiar with the DofE, understand how beneficial this programme can be for young people; the beauty of it, is that it not only gives its participants the chance to thrive, but also encourages them to help others do the same. Take for example, Obinwanne, a Gold award recipient from Nigeria; as part of his Services activities, he decided to use football to reduce the levels of crime in his neighbourhood.

He realised that one of the main reasons so many teenagers were involved in crime was simply because they had nowhere else to direct their energy; that is, they had no goals, ambitions, or hobbies to keep them occupied. After setting up a football club in his local area, the crime rates began to drop dramatically, resulting in a more peaceful and safe environment for the entire community. Moreover, many of those who joined the club have since decided to pursue careers in this sport.

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The DofE’s expansion overseas | Tunde Folawiyo

Almost immediately after the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was launched in the UK, other nations around the world began to express an interest in getting involved. Although it took quite a few years, the D of E gradually began to expand overseas, and by 1989, over 48 countries had set up their own versions of the award. Due to the popularity of the scheme, the D of E committee set up the International Award Foundation, an organisation that most people, including Tunde Folawiyo, are familiar with.

Tunde Folawiyo

The USA is a relative newcomer to the Award, having joined just eight years ago. It was launched here by Todd Ruppert, Manley Thaler, Lanny Griffith, John Danielson and Sam Haskell, all of whom are now official board members of the American D of E, which is run as a non-profit organisation. Its partners include the Philadelphia Foundation, Miss America Organisation and the Boy Scouts of America.

Many of those who joined several years ago are now looking to expand and improve upon the DofE programme run in their countries. For instance, in Germany, where the D of E has been in operation since 1993, an accredited training programme has just been launched for people who wish to work as leaders and assessors for award participants.

The award, which is known here as Das Jugenprogramm, will now be run by fully qualified individuals, who have completed the D of E’s own training course. Eva Willke, Ceri Temple, Jasmin Muller-Aalefeld, Patrick Loffler and David Harrison have already finished up the theoretical side of their training, and are about to embark upon their practical lessons, which will be completed via on-site visits to various schools around the country.

As a supporter of youth development schemes like the D of E, Tunde Folawiyo might be aware that similar improvements are being made to the award in Bermuda, where the DofE has been up and running since 1967. Michael Dunkely, who serves as the National Security Minister, has said that there are now talks underway which may lead to the establishment of a second award scheme for those aged between 20 and 28. There are also plans to offer inmates at Ferry Reach the opportunity to earn their DofE award, and to integrate the scheme into the standard training undertaken by the Police Cadets.

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Tunde Folawiyo | The Duke of Edinburgh Award Partners with the Dallaglio Foundation

Boasting a deep-rooted history of promoting the personal development of today’s youth, the Duke of Edinburgh Award serves as a wonderful means of encouragement for millions of young people throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. Through the valued support of many of the programme’s proponents such as Tunde Folawiyo, the Duke of Edinburgh Award continues to inspire bright young leaders striving to make a difference in themselves and in the communities around them.

In its quest to further promote extraordinary character among today’s youth, the Duke of Edinburgh Award (D of E) has joined forces with England rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio’s Foundation in hopes of inspiring the development of a variety of life skills through the power of sports. As of September last year, the D of E has worked closely with the Dallaglio Foundation in an effort to promote education through rugby clubs across England. Valuable life skills such as team work, communication and the ability to work under pressure are all practiced under the game of Rugby, demonstrating a great connection between sports and good character, an idea the organisation continues to explore. It is this innovative thinking that has garnered the respect from other charitable organisations throughout the world.

Since its founding in 1856, the D of E has worked closely with young people, continually encouraging them to set forth on obtaining the Award. The success of the programme is well-recognised as over five million students have taken part in the life-changing programme to date. In March of 2014, Actor Benedict Cumberbatch presenTunde Folawiyoted the Gold Award to 85 recipients as he praised them for their outstanding accomplishments, reiterating the importance of participating in the world-renowned programme. “It’s with great pride that I’m presenting the Duke of Edinburgh Award gold awards. What these young people have achieved is fantastic, not just for themselves but for their communities…as an actor I know how much their experiences and the skills they’ve developed matter. Without determination and passion, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wish them every success for the future,” he said during the ceremony at St James’s Palace.

Initiatives such as these, as well as the Dallaglio Foundation partnership provide an immense service to the goals of the organisation and the young minds participating. Due to the outstanding encouragement of the award’s supporters such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the world, the Duke of Edinburgh Award will continue to thrive, serving as a constant source of encouragement for the development of today’s young leaders.

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Amey establishes new campaign with DofE | Tunde Folawiyo

Just recently, the DofE established a partnership with one of its long-term supporters, Amey. The latter intends to support local communities, by helping at least 165,000 teens from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in the DofE programme.

Tunde FolawiyoAmey is a well-known UK organisation based in Oxfordshire, which offers works with clients in the public sector; it handles services relating to everything from infrastructure and waste disposal, to utilities. This company is committed to investing in its employees, and in particular, it is concerned with helping its younger staff members to reach their full potential.

Being familiar with the DofE, Tunde Folawiyo may know that Amey provides all of its employees, who are under the age of 25, with the opportunity to complete the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of this programme, so that these young people can develop the skills they need to fulfil their professional ambitions. Thirty-six of Amey’s apprentices have already received their Gold Awards, and a further 220 are currently working towards this goal.

The management team at Amey does its utmost to ensure that the process of getting involved in the DofE is as easy as possible for its staff members. They believe that the skills which young people acquire as a result of their participation in this programme – things such as creative thinking, determination, teamwork and communication – can benefit both the participants, and their employers.  Although currently, this company only supports the provision of the DofE programme within the Oxfordshire area, it has announced that it will be expanding this offer to young people living in Birmingham as well.

Most people, including Tunde Folawiyo, are doubtless aware that whilst the DofE Award is available to everyone between the ages of 14 and 25, it can be difficult for those who are living in challenging circumstances to get involved. For instance, teens that have health issues, or are experiencing problems in school or with their families, may be too preoccupied with these other aspects of their lives to even consider joining the DofE. It is hoped that Amey’s new collaborative campaign with the DofE will encourage teens in these types of situations to get involved, and get back on the right track.  The CEO of Amey, Mel Ewell, stated that this initiative will have a very positive impact on the lives, and the future prospects of many teens in the UK; he added that he and his team are particularly glad to be able to offer a helping hand to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Alumni of the DofE – Jay’s story | Tunde Folawiyo

Jay Passmore is a former member of the DofE programme, who received his Gold Award in October of last year. Today, he has his dream job, working within the fostering service in Devon. However, life was not always quite so happy for Jay; he had a tumultuous, difficult childhood. From the age of ten and upwards, he was passed from one foster care home to another, never being given the chance to settle down and have a normal upbringing.

Most people, including Tunde Folawiyo, understand how important it is for young people to have stability in their lives; the absence of this led to Jay becoming very rebellious. However, when he turned 17 and left foster care, he began to look at his life from a different perspective. Unsure of what his next step should be, he chose to start helping other youngsters who were still in the system, by working as a volunteer for a foster child support group. It was whilst in this position that Jay became aware of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Other people in the group had already become involved, and he decided that he should do the same.

Despite feeling somewhat apprehensive about taking on such a monumental task, he ignored his worries and signed up. Jay now says that it was this decision which changed the course of his life. It allowed him to develop important new skills, find friends with similar interests, and perhaps most importantly, it gave him the confidence he needed to apply for his current job.Tunde Folawiyo

Over the course of his time with the DofE, he managed to raise enough money to travel to South Africa for his expedition and residential activities. During these trips, he worked with a Zulu tribe, camped out in a rainforest and learned about the importance of teamwork, as he had to spend a total of three weeks with a group of strangers.

Those who are familiar with the DofE programme, like Tunde Folawiyo, will be aware that the organisation arranges a celebratory awards ceremony for those who have completed their Gold level activities. Jay received his award at St. James’ Palace last year; afterwards, he was publically interviewed by the DofE’s communications manager, who asked him to discuss his experience of the programme,

Jay spoke of his difficult childhood, of how the Award had changed him, and of his goals for the future. After he received his certificate, he and the other recipients were given tours of several of the State Rooms. Speaking to the press at a later date, he described it as one of the best days of his life, adding that all of the hard work he had undertaken during the programme had been worth it.