Award Winners Head To Conference In Kenya
This September, The Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme will host what is known as the ‘International Gold Event’ (IGE) – a youth led leadership conference for selected Gold Award holders from around the world.
A Bermuda contingent will attend the conference in Kenya, and anyone interested in donating materials for Kenyan schools is welcome to send them with our local group.
The triennial event, which began in 1967 – taking place in a variety of countries and continents, will this year be hosted by The President’s Award Kenya and will run from September 2nd to 16th.
Representing Bermuda are two Gold alumni who continue to play an active role in The Award Programme: Stacee Smith (‘04) and Jovanna Douglas (‘02).
Stacee Smith is the Chair of the Communications and Public Relations Committee whilst Jovanna Douglas is an organizer of the recently established BANX (Bermuda Award National eXpedition) initiative and will soon take on the added role of Chair of the Alumni and Friends of The Award Association (AFAA).
In addition, both young ladies are National Award Assessors and the Award National Director, Tina Nash, will also be attending the IGE as a member of staff.
The core aims of the conference are to build personal connections and leadership skills in the International Award community, engage young people in the governance, policy and practice of The Award – locally, nationally and internationally and lastly, to carry forward debates and decisions on both internal and external youth issues.
There will be 110 Gold Award Alumni between the ages of 20 and 30, representing 54 countries. These young people will take part in various workshops, outdoor activities (e.g. rock climbing, white water rafting, etc.) and community service.
In fact, there are select primary schools where the delegates will assist with repairing either indoor or outdoor facilities.
Like The Award itself, the IGE addresses all facets of young people’s well-being: the body, mind, the community and the environment. As a result, it facilitates the development of not only Participants but the planet as a whole. Building partnerships and solidarity between agencies, countries, regions and generations is a definite priority.
Upon conclusion of the IGE, the freshly motivated delegates will spend three years assisting the development of The Award Programme, whether nationally and/or internationally. The knowledge and experience that they gain is an invaluable asset to The Award.
Any persons interested in donating pencils, pens, crayons, erasers or rulers to Kenyan schools that will be a part of the IGE Service Project can contact the National Director, Tina Nash at 537-4868 or director@theaward.bm. The deadline to donate is August 15th 2011.
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