There are more than 1.3 million young people involved in the programme globally and every day more than 1,800 young people start the award. New Zealand is one of around 140 countries to deliver the Award programme.
There has been a surge in demand for extracurricular opportunities like the Award, as young people continue to navigate challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and global uncertainties.
Our College has been an accredited Award Centre for about 25 years and each year up to 45 students work at different levels.
The Award is open to anyone between the ages of 14-24—regardless of gender, background or ability. Young people design their own Award programmes, set their own goals and record their own progress.
The Award creates opportunities for young people to learn a new skill (or develop an existing one), get physically active, give service to their communities, and take part in an adventure.
The Award challenges young people to leave their comfort zones—and that’s when the good stuff happens.
Our students build self-confidence and greater resilience, helping to set them up for success in today’s uncertain world, where they face more challenges than ever.
There are three levels to the Award—Bronze, Silver and Gold—and each level has activities in four specific sections (plus a fifth at Gold level): Service, Physical Recreation, Skills, Adventurous Journey and for Gold only, a Residential project. Activities are completed under the guidance of an Award Leader and each section is supervised by an experienced Assessor. At each level, participants increase the time, commitment and challenge they need to invest in order to achieve an Award.
Many of our girls have gone on to receive their Gold Award at Government House, in Wellington. You can read more about the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award on the organisation’s website, its impact and social value, or check out the Facebook page.
For further information please contact the Teacher in Charge, Mrs Cooper.