What is the Award?
The Award equips young people for life and work.
Not all learning happens in the classroom. Young people need experiences outside the classroom to become committed, responsible and fulfilled citizens of the world.
The Award is open to all 14-24 year olds regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests and is the world’s leading youth achievement award. Doing the Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others; it pushes young people to their personal limits and recognises their achievements.
Since its launch over 60 years ago, the Award has inspired millions of young people to transform their lives.
A longstanding global network
Today more than 130 countries have adopted The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme with over 8 million young people having participated worldwide.
The Award framework
The Award is comprised of three levels and four sections – Skills, Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Participants complete all four sections at each level in order to achieve their Award. At Gold level, participants also complete a Residential Project.
Below are examples of how students have fulfilled each section’s requirements:
Service
Helping with after-school care at a primary school or YMCA, voluntary work on a farm, assisting at a Citizens’ Advice Bureau, at a rest home or a school holiday camp.
Skill
Learning a musical instrument, taking drama, art or dance classes, learning how to cook for the family, learning how to knit, growing a vege garden.
Physical
Taking part in a sport through school or a club, learning dance or a martial art.
Expedition
Each year Mr Belson takes a Bronze Award group on a one night camping trip, usually in the Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi in November.
Silver Award groups are taken on a three-day tramp through the Waitakere Ranges.
Find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award here
You can register for the award online here
For more information about how you can take part in the Award scheme through MAGS, contact Mr Andy Belson at [email protected]
