Edinburgh Award: 17 Teens Travel To Guyana
A contingent of 27 Award Participants, Leaders, and Assessors from Bermuda recently returned from a 2-week long expedition in the jungles of Guyana with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.
The overseas expedition held annually by the Caribbean Award Sub-regional Council (CASC) was hosted this year by The President’s Youth Award – Republic of Guyana and saw over 200 people from National Award Authorities (NAAs) within the America’s Region converge on the South American nation.
The theme for CASC 2010 was “Experiencing the Nature Kingdom”. The contingent was able to enjoy the country’s vast and varied unspoiled landscapes ranging from miles of lush rainforest and rolling savannah lands through to rich, fertile agricultural lands. Through their expeditions, they also experienced the country’s many waterfalls, including the majestic Kaieteur Falls, the largest single drop waterfall in the world.
The major focus for CASC 2010 was to expose attendees to, among other things, lifeguard certification, swimming instruction, HIV/Health peer education, a study of the expedition routes, the Award-in-Action, a residential project, a qualifying expedition, and cultural exchanges.
17 young people between the ages of 15 and 19 undertook their Silver and Gold expeditions in Guyana. They were Rachael Antonition, Zaire Bean, Patrick Chapman, Shohreh Darooyan, Aysha M. DeSilva, Talisa Dyer-Cann, Taneé Esdaille, Kristen Greene, Archer Hill, Chioma Nwasike, Jordan Osborne, Bryden Pedro, Jonté Raynor, Chéquan Richardson, Stefanny Sanchez, Trae Trott and Jahkhari Woods.
CASC 2010 was not only for young participants and 9 Leaders from Bermuda also travelled with the contingent. They were Chairman Kenneth Bartram, Deputy Chairman Norman C. Pogson, National Director Tina Nash, Lisa Brewster, Juanita Campbell, Brendan Millett, Officer Jason Simons, Officer André Symonds and Sonia Waldron.
National Director, Mrs. Tina Nash stated that “CASC 2010 was a success and an excellent opportunity for our participants and leaders to develop new skills, develop new friends, and experience a new culture. We were very pleased with how our young people and Leaders represented Bermuda and experiencing CASC 2010 has prepared us well for planning our new National Expedition, called BANX, which will be launched in 2011. Attending CASC 2010 will ensure that our young people, our leaders, and Bermuda’s National Award programme will remain Fit for the Future and consistent with the International Award’s mandate for all NAAs.”
For 43 years, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Bermuda has provided an enjoyable, challenging, rewarding, free programme of personal development for 14 – 25 year olds. To date thousands have obtained their Award in Bermuda. There are three levels of the Award – Bronze, Silver, and Gold – each made up of four main sections; Community Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journeys, as well as a fifth section that all Gold Award participants must undertake – a Residential Project taking many abroad on worthwhile projects.
