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.

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.

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.

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.

Tunde Folawiyo | The Duke of Edinburgh Award Granted Camping Exemption

As one of the world’s most revered proponents of youth development, the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award has continually served the world’s young people as a great source of encouragement. With the outstanding support of its proponents including Tunde Folawiyo, the Duke of Edinburgh Award continues to inspire today’s generation of bright young minds to strive toward greatness in obtaining social and educational skills.

Tunde FolawiyoSince its founding in 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh Award has grown exponentially, propelling it into the internationally recognised programme it is today. Recently, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was granted a 5 year Camping Exemption Certificate for England and Wales by Natural England, which will in turn allow D of E groups to utilise the land under less invasive restrictions. Under section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936, the following is permitted:

  • The use of any land owned by the exempted organisation (or provided or used by them) to be used for tented camping without the need for a site licence from the local authority
  • D of E participants (and adults) to put up tents on any site with the permission of the owner
  • D of E participants (and adults) to use land for the purpose of recreation or instruction, and to erect or place tents on the land for those purposes.

With its everlasting focus on promoting excellence within the areas of volunteering, physical fitness, and other unique skills, the DofE requires participants to successfully complete a variety of comprehensive assessments proving a great understanding of the aforementioned areas. Amongst these requirements is an adventurous challenge in which participants set forth on 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. The new allowances set forth by section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936 will prove of great benefit to the many students wishing to embark on these journeys. Reaching over 300,000 young people in more than 120 countries throughout the world, the Duke of Edinburgh Award continues to partner with organisations across the globe in a joint dedication to fostering the hopeful participants of the DofE and providing them with the necessary tools to ensure success. 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.

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.

DofE Silver level celebrations | Tunde Folawiyo

Like the other fellows that support the DofE, Tunde Folawiyo understands the importance of acknowledging the hard work that participants undertake to complete the Silver level activities. Many of those who have just joined the DofE programme dream of the day when they will be given their Silver certificate. It’s a great honour, and serves as proof of the recipient’s ability to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. To receive this award, participants who have already completed their Bronze activities must spend a minimum of six months on their Tunde FolawiyoSilver level activities, whilst those who have not received the Bronze award are required to spend at least a year at this stage.

Silver Award Presentations (often abbreviated to SAPs) are held five times a year, in order to publically acknowledge the hard work undertaken by DofE participants at this level. The support provided by organisations such as the Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship, which fellows including Tunde Folawiyo support, and the help of Local Authorities is what allows the DofE committee to continue to hold these important ceremonies. Most participants will be invited to a SAP within six months of finishing their Silver activities, provided their licensed organisation has sent off their Silver Award Notification form for approval.

Recently, a ceremony of this kind was held for a group of young people from Yorkshire. In total, 36 participants received their awards, which were handed out by the DofE Regional Director Neil Forrest, the Lord Mayor of Bradford and Councillor Khadim Hussain. Speaking at the event, Councillor Hussain congratulated all of the recipients, praising them for their determination and hard work. He finished by saying that it was an impressive achievement, and that they should all be very proud of themselves. Neil Forrest was equally complimentary, stating that it had been wonderful to watch so many young people flourish and grow as individuals.

A similar event was held in Glasgow this month at the High Tunstall College of Science. Over the course of the evening, 18 students received their Silver awards, after having worked tirelessly for more than a year on their Volunteer, Skills, Physical and Expedition activities. The college’s assistant head teacher, Mick Fenwick, said that he and the other staff members were ‘extremely proud’ of the recipients, noting that their achievement was a testament to both the students and the teachers who were involved in the delivery of the DofE programme. One of the recipients, named Harriet, explained that her activities at Silver level had provided her with memories that she will treasure for the rest of her life.

 

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.

Tunde Folawiyo | The history and development of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Tunde FolawiyoThe Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme has been running for fifty seven years. It was founded by Prince Philip, with support from Kurt Hahn, an educationalist from Germany, who had previously set up the Country Badge Scheme. This scheme came to an end during the war, but Hahn remained deeply concerned about the development of young people.

He noticed a lack of initiative, physical fitness, skills and compassion in the younger generation, and aimed to address these issues by helping to found the DofE. The goal was, and still is, to maintain a diverse programme of activities which enable young people to navigate the challenging adolescent years, and emerge as confident, hard-working and capable adults. The Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship programme was also instigated in 1987, bringing together individuals like Tunde Folawiyo, to help support the ongoing Duke of Edinburgh Award programme and allow these young people to develop successfully and independently.

A committee was formed to oversee the programme, and after several meetings, it was decided that it would be non-competitive, and would be available to everyone within the specified age range, with no membership requirement. Initially, the committee agreed upon four categories of activities, which would include physical fitness, skills, services and an expedition. A number of years later, a fifth section was added, in the form of a residential project.

Whilst the lowest age limit has always been 14, the upper age limit has gradually increased over the years. When the DofE was primarily founded, only those aged 18 or under could participate; however, the following year, the limit was raised to 19. Between 1965 and 1980, the limit was raised a further three times, eventually reaching 25.

The flexibility and freedom of which the DofE affords its participants has meant that it has been integrated into many different youth organisations and schools, both in the UK and abroad. Currently, more than 120 countries have adapted the DofE programme, as well as a Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship Award. The World Fellowship consists of individuals, including Tunde Folawiyo, that have been brought together as Fellows of the programme to support and develop the younger generation in their endeavours throughout this scheme. Although the title of the Award varies from place to place, the same principles apply.

The skills which participants develop throughout the course of the DofE programme can benefit not only their mental and physical health, but also their career prospects in later life. Employers like Tunde Folawiyo tend to look favourably upon those who can demonstrate that they are capable of focusing on a long-term goal, and seeing it through to the end. Moreover, a great deal of tenacity, teamwork and patience is required in order to complete the activities in each of the categories of the Bronze, Gold and Silver levels, and these are all important qualities which employers hope to find in potential employees.