How the DofE is improving school attendance rates in Kenya

Although the Kenyan government has been going to great lengths to ensure that all children are provided with free primary education, many young people are unable to attend on a regular Tunde Folawiyobasis. Approximately 83% are enrolled, but only a fraction of these go to school every day. Particularly in remote areas such as Bartabwa, the challenging conditions which many families find themselves in make it difficult to prioritise schooling.

However, a number of young DofE participants in Kenya have been doing their best to rectify this situation. Tunde Folawiyo, and others who are familiar with the DofE, may know of Rachel Wanjohi; for the Services section of her Gold Award, Rachel decided to encourage children in Wairuri to attend their local primary school. After visiting the school, she saw that a lack of basic facilities, such as a library, sports equipment, first aid kits and clean water had deterred many parents from sending their children there.

Rachel launched a number of fundraising projects to address these problems; her initial efforts helped to raise KES30,000, which was then used to purchase a water tank. Further fundraising work brought in even more money, and gradually, as the school facilities improved, attendance rates began to increase. Rachel’s work vastly improved the quality of life for many children in the local area and, of course, also helped her to achieve her Gold Award. Since then, she has gone on to work as Kenya’s Ambassador for Tunza Eco-Generation, and now aims to promote the eco-friendly initiatives being organised around Africa.

Judy Chesire is another former DofE participant whose work had an enormously positive impact on the education system in Kenya. For the Services section of her Award, she decided to set up a programme called Education and Life Empowerment in the afore-mentioned area of Bartabwa. She started off by arranging motivational talks, during which she and other guest speakers discussed the importance of education.

She then addressed the issue of staff shortages in the local school, by enlisting the help of her fellow university students, who were able to fill in as substitute teachers when necessary. In addition to this, she encouraged local children to see school in a different light, by making learning more enjoyable for them; she organised music and PE lessons, as well as games that helped children to view education as fun, rather than as a chore. As a result, both attendance rates and grade averages have risen dramatically in Bartabwa.

Chesire’s work led to her being recognised by the Peter Cruddas Social Innovation Initiative, and attending a showcase for the foundation in London. Anyone who is familiar with the Peter Cruddas Foundation, like Tunde Folawiyo, will understand what an honour it is to be asked to participate in this type of event.

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.

How the DofE is helping to rehabilitate young offenders

Those who are familiar with the DofE, such as Tunde Folawiyo, may know that whilst many of its participants are school-going teens, in recent years, the programme has also been made available to young offenders. These people are offered the chance to complete each stage of the Award whilst they serve Tunde Folawiyotheir sentences. This supports the rehabilitation process, as it gives them a sense of achievement, builds their self-esteem, and provides them with practical skills which will allow them to make better choices after they are released.

Danielle is a young woman from the UK who was given a two-year sentence when she was 17. Prior to her this, she had been involved in the DofE; and although she didn’t initially want to continue with it, her Award Leader encouraged her to carry on with the programme whilst she was at the juvenile detention centre.

Danielle followed her leader’s advice, and over the next year, she finished her Physical, Service and Skills activities, eventually going on to receive her Gold Award. After her release, she completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Psychology, and she now has a career as a youth worker. In addition to this, she also serves as an Award leader at her local youth centre, and has been selected as the representative for the UK DofE Award at the Canadian IGE (International Gold Event.

Danielle’s inspiring story is just one example of many around the world. As Tunde Folawiyo is no doubt aware, young offenders in South Africa are also offered the chance to get involved in the DofE. Erol De Souza completed his Award in 1994, three years after he had been sent to St Albans correctional centre. Receiving the Award in the presence of Nelson Mandela was a great honour, and inspired Erol to continue serving as a fieldworker for the DofE after his release, as he wanted to make sure that other young offenders knew that there was hope, that they could still go on to achieve great things. In an interview, he noted that the Award dramatically reduced re-offending rates, and that true rehabilitation was only possible in prisons where this programme and others like it, were offered to inmates.

Paul Reynolds is another success story from the UK; he began to participate in the Award when he was midway through his sentence. As a result of the DofE, he was able to organise fundraising events, which generated a significant sum of money for several children’s charities. He explained that the Award changed his outlook entirely, giving him the confidence to believe that he can do something good with his life, both during his incarceration, and after his release.

Folawiyo has supported the work of the DofE for some time now. Those who wish to learn more about him should take a look at the bio on Tunde Folawiyo in Business Week.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Participants Partner with TEACH to Empower African Youth

Tunde FolawiyoAlmost 200 million people in Africa today are between the ages of 15 and 24, giving the country the youngest population in the world. This massive demographic segment of the population is largely overlooked as a potential source for positive change in African society and is often left without the education and training they need to improve their lives and those in their communities. TEACH (Time to Empower Africa’s Children), a nonprofit, charitable organisation, is endeavoring to alleviate poverty in Africa through the power of education and the engagement of new skills. One of the ways the organisation does this is by partnering with the youth of the UK, through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme, offering volunteer opportunities for them to help empower African youth, while meeting the criteria for the DofE Award.

TEACH was founded by two sisters from the UK, Krupa and Shivani Patel, in 2008. Inspired by the experiences they shared while volunteering in Ghana, the sisters returned to the UK and began establishing an organisation that would incorporate their core values and increase the scope of their work in Africa. Today, TEACH is committed to educating, engaging and empowering youth in Africa and the UK. By partnering with schools and colleges across the UK, TEACH is able to spread awareness of the needs in Africa as well as create a sense of global citizenship that can develop into positive social change in future generations. They achieve their mission through three primary platforms – Community Participation; Business Enterprise Initiative and Global Citizenship.

One of the major contributors of youth volunteers is the participants in the DofE Award programme. The programme, which has many supporters such as Tunde Folawiyo, established in 1956 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, is concerned with youth development in certain key areas. TEACH offers many opportunities for UK youth to fulfill their objectives in these areas, which include volunteering, physical improvement, skills development and expedition completion, whether it is working in Moshi as part of their “Be the Change” programme in youth leadership or organising fundraisers for an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro with part of the funds going to TEACH initiatives. Through their active participation in fundraising events or hands-on building and educational projects, DofE Award participants help raise the awareness of the poverty that reigns in areas such as Tanzania, while building a firm foundation of future global responsibility and sustainability.

Businessman Tunde Folawiyo is one of the dedicated World Fellows of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, who supports the endeavours of the programme in its continuing efforts to mobilise the youth of Africa and the UK.

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.

History of the Duke of Edinburg’s Award

As a global leader in youth development, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to inspire millions of outstanding young people throughout the world. Since its establishment in 1956, the charity has sought to encourage millions of youth to explore their true potential. Through promoting a variety of life skills such as physical fitness and volunteerism, the DofE ensures its thousands of yearly participants are equipped to go forth and initiate positive change within their respective communities. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the UK and abroad may continue to regard the DofE as a great source of encouragement for exceptional youth worldwide.

Tunde FolawiyoThe organisation was first spearheaded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as a programme for boys. Consisting of four segments – rescue, expeditions, public service and fitness – the programme sought to provide a stable environment for young boys to acquire vital life skills to aid in their progression toward adulthood. By 1957, over 7,000 boys had begun DofE programmes, with one thousand Awards achieved since its establishment. One year later, the DofE for Girls is established, focusing on the areas of living, interests, adventures and services. The programme’s first Gold Award was presented at the famed Buckingham Palace. During this same year, pilot projects were initiated in eleven other Commonwealth nations.

The turn of the 1960s saw over 40,000 young people participating in the DofE programme, demonstrating the phenomenal growth achieved in just a few short years. By the middle of the decade, three area and regional offices were established throughout the UK, with the programme operating in more than twenty countries around the world. By 1975, one million participants were enrolled in the DofE.

The programme grew exponentially over the next decades, with HRH Prince Edward achieving the Gold during 1986. The following year saw the DofE reach a great milestone with its 100,000th Gold achieved. By the end of the 80s, the number of participants surpassed two million with over one million DofE awards achieved by 1992. In the coming years, the numbers continue to soar, with the charity celebrating its 50th anniversary during 2006. By 2009, a variety of initiatives had been implemented to provide participants the utmost rewarding experience. Tunde Folawiyo and others involved with the DofE may continue to forge a great impact upon the future success of millions of young people around the globe. Follow Tunde Folawiyo projects to learn more of the worthy causes he supports.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Africa

The International Award Foundation work tirelessly in Africa to bring the programme to young people across the continent, an endeavour close to the heart of Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh’s World Fellowship, Tunde Folawiyo.

Founded in 1956, the ethos of the Duke of Edinburgh Award is to help young people, whatever their adversities, to reach their full potential.  Through practical activities and teamwork, the aim is to develop mind, body and soul, building confidence and self-esteem.  By 1975 over 1,000,000 young people had participated in the scheme. In 1986 the Duke of Edinburgh’s third son, HRH Prince Edward, achieved his Gold Award. In 1988, the International Award Association was established to promote the award globally.  Prince Edward continues to play an active role in the charity both as a UK and International Trustee.  He is Chairman of the International Council, which governs the programme in 140 countries.

Tunde FolawiyoThe Duke of Edinburgh Award has changed the lives of millions of young people for the better, and none more than Kenyan, Julius Irungu Krush, who grew up in the slums of Mathare.  The makeshift shelters have no electricity; no running water; no sanitation.  Julius and his family were under constant threat – both from opportunist crime and their exposure to the elements.  Julius is the youngest son of a single mother who had three other children to care for.  Schooling fees and learning materials slid from Julius’s grasp as his mother struggled to put food on the table.

Julius recounts the despondency of the slums – the bleak acceptance of those around him that there was no escape from the poverty trap. Julius dropped out of school twice. Surrounded by negative peer pressure and with no dreams, confidence, aspirations or ambition, Julius attempted suicide.

This young boy’s life was turned around when he was introduced to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International programme. Within six months he had achieved his Bronze Award, quickly rising through the ranks to Silver and Gold. Along the way, Julius said he reaped so many rewards: confidence; inspiration. The experience changed his life forever. Through the Service section, he learnt the importance of community, so much so that after achieving the Gold Award he went on to start a mentorship programme himself called Raising Hope, to inspire the children of the slums of Mathare.

Stories like Julius’s are an inspiration to us all, and none more than Tunde Folawiyo, a long-time supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. As director of the African Leadership Academy, entrepreneur Tunde Folawiyo is committed to helping young people to achieve their full potential.

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.

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.

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.