President’s Award Programme: The international award for young people |06 June 2014

The President’s Award Programme was first launched in the United Kingdom in 1956 as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The aim was to motivate boys between 15 and 18 to become involved in a balanced programme of voluntary self-development activities to take them through the potentially difficult period between adolescence and adulthood.
Since 1956 the programme has developed and grown and now reaches young people in over 100 countries.

Today, the basic principles of the Award remain the same, but the activities and delivery continue to evolve and adapt to suit the changing demands of modern society and the varying needs of young people. The Award is now a major international programme recognised and used by organisations working with young people throughout the world.
In Seychelles the Award Programme was re-launched in 2000 as the President’s Award Scheme after being dormant for quite some time under the jurisdiction of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC).

The Award Leadership Unit which is responsible for running the Award Programme is ably assisted by over 30 award leaders. Participants aged 14 to 25 years old get the chance to tailor their own programme to suit their own needs through the three levels of the programme -- Bronze, Silver and Gold -- and the 4 sections at each level -- service, skills, physical recreation and adventurous journey (expedition).

The Bronze level is for those over 14 years and lasts for at least six months. The Silver level is for those over 15 years and runs for at least 12 months while the Gold level is for participants above 16 years and lasts for 18 months. At Gold level participants must undertake a residential project away from home. Between 2008 and 2012, 989 Awards were achieved by the participants of the programme.

The Award Programme is designed to instill many of the following into our young people upon completion of their programme.

•    Self-belief and self-confidence
•    A positive and realistic self-image. They will know and accept their own strengths and weaknesses and be more aware of their own potential
•    An independent and self-motivating attitude
•    A sense of responsibility to others
•    A connection to the broader society
•    Life skills-negotiations, research, communication, problem-solving and presentation skills
•    A willingness to try new things
•    New friendships and relationships with their peers and other people
•    The ability to make a plan and then make the plan happen
•    Life-long interest and team skills.