Minister Meets With Duke of Edinburgh Reps

March 28, 2014

Earlier this week, the Acting Premier and Minister of National Security Michael Dunkley welcomed representatives from The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to discuss the programme and its importance in Bermuda and worldwide.

Joining Minister Dunkley at Wednesday’s meeting was Wayne Scott, Minister of Community, Culture and Sports, MP Leah Scott, Junior Minister for Education and Economic Development, David Clarke, Regional Director for the Americas, Traci Burgess National Director for Bermuda and Edwin Kimani Regional Director for the Africas.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Bermuda’s critical role in the programme – more specifically, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Kimani were on Island conducting an evaluation of the Bermuda Award’s programme, operations and governance structure.

L-R: Minister Scott, David Clarke, MP Leah Scott, Minister Dunkley, Traci Burgess, and Edwin Kimani:

Minister Dunkley and Edinburgh Award reps

The International Award Foundation has recently moved to a global licensing structure for every Award Authority in each of the 144 countries where the Award is currently operating.

The purpose of the licensing process, according to Ms. Burgess, is to ensure consistency and quality for international delivery of the Award programme; and to bring the global identity of the Award into alignment with the launch of the new international branding for the Award.

Ms. Burgess went on to say, “Bermuda is the second Country in the Americas Region [covering all of North, Central and South America, and the entire Caribbean-Atlantic], and one of only a handful of countries across the globe to have undergone this validation process.

“I am pleased to advise that the Bermuda Award has received verbal confirmation from the Assessors that they are recommending our full license to be granted by the International Award.”

Minister Dunkley added, “On behalf of the Government, we were very pleased to welcome the representatives of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. And we are very pleased to learn of Bermuda’s recent achievement within the global scope of the Award programme.

“From all accounts Bermuda was very well received and we have been advised that the Assessors were so impressed with the Award’s level of professionalism in how the programme is governed and delivered in Bermuda that they have asked to share several of our best practices, policies and procedures with their colleagues offering the Award around the world.”

Minister Dunkley pointed out that there are moves afoot to expand the programme into other sectors of the community. As an example, Bermuda is creating a pilot internship programme for Award holders between the ages of 20 – 28, which will include businesses from the private sector and the exploration of internship opportunities with various Government departments.

Discussions are presently underway with Bermuda Police Service to integrate the Award as part of the Police Cadets programme and talks are underway with Department of Corrections to reintroduce the Award as a character and professional development programme for inmates at the Co-Ed facility at Ferry Reach.

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