volunteer work

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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 Award Recipients Give Back

In striving to uphold its everlasting mission of a brighter tomorrow for youth across the globe, The Duke of Edinburgh Award continues to implement new initiatives in hopes of forging an impact on impressionable youth determined to make a difference within their communities. Armed with the valued support of DofE advocates such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the United Kingdom and beyond, the DofE will continue to encourage participants to create better conditions not only for themselves and their families, but the communities that surround them, as well.

Since the organisation’s establishment in 1956, the DofE has continually inspired millions of young people worldwide to strive toward productive personal growth and sense of responsibility. Through a wide variety of assessments and trainings participants may become eligible for varied Tunde Folawiyoawards upon demonstrating success in areas such as physical fitness, volunteering and skill as well as adventurous journey. Each of these may prove immeasurable in nurturing positive impact for the participant and the people and communities that surround them.

Upon completion of the DofE’s varied awards, participants may find themselves eager to remain tied to the organisation, and there are many ways to accomplish this. Award recipients are encouraged to share their stories of success in hopes of inspiring other youth. Provide contact details to keep in touch with fellow alumni and programme organizers.

Those who have completed the programme are also urged to volunteer. The ability to assist others on their journey is a great honour that is sure to elicit joy amongst all parties involved. The DofE is currently searching for group leaders! In furthering its commitment to youth success, the DofE is preparing to launch LifeZone, a website meant exclusively for past participants. The site will support with career and employment guidance in addition to a variety of other perks such as advice from reputable CEOs. Supporters of the DofE are also encouraged to submit monetary donations in order to ensure the organisation is able to continue its work in fostering our next generation of leaders. The support of past Award recipients provides an enhanced sense of confidence in new participants, demonstrating the importance of life-long connections.

Through the constant support of the programmes’ proponents such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others across the world, the DofE will ever continue to form a meaningful, long-lasting impact on countless youth throughout the United Kingdom, Africa and many countries beyond.

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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 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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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.

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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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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.