THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S INTERNATIONAL AWARD
History and philosophy
Our philosophy is straightforward but powerful: formal education is just one piece of the puzzle. While schools teach us the ABCs and 123s, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award focuses on life’s other important lessons—building character, nurturing skills, and fostering a sense of adventure. We believe that every young person has something amazing to offer, and our mission is to help them find their unique talents.
The Award parameters are: Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation, Skills, and Adventurous Journey. Through Voluntary Service, participants give back to their communities, discovering the joy of helping others. Physical Recreation keeps them active and healthy, whether they’re dancing, swimming, or hiking. The Skills section lets them dive into personal interests, from playing an instrument to coding. And the Adventurous Journey? It’s all about epic exploration that teaches resilience and teamwork.
Accessible to all 14 to 24-year-olds, our Award is a journey of self-discovery and growth. We aim to empower Nepal’s youth, equipping them with the confidence and skills to lead successful, fulfilling lives. Join us on this incredible adventure!
HISTORY
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award equips young people for life. It is the world’s leading youth achievement award. The Award was founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, in conjunction with Kurt Hahn, the German educationalist. Both were concerned that young people’s development was lacking in certain key areas, and they resolved to create a programme that would be a ‘do-it-yourself kit’ for inspired living.
By creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure, the Award can play a critical role in their development outside the classroom. It also allows their achievement to be consistently recognised worldwide, giving young people unique international accreditation of their experiences.
The Award is transforming individuals, communities and societies around the world. Young people who do the Award become more confident and resilient, and develop skills in areas such as communication, problem solving and leadership. This in turn impacts on their communities, who see improvements in areas including employability, health and wellbeing, and educational attainment.
Since its launch over sixty years ago, millions of young people have participated and received Awards, with millions more benefiting from its impact in communities around the world.
The Award is open to all young people regardless of their background and circumstances. Award projects around the world involve young offenders, homeless children and post conflict communities. The impact of the Award on these and many more young people is extraordinary – it transforms their lives.
As an international framework which remains the same wherever it operates, the Award is a unique global currency through which young people can demonstrate their achievements and value.
Group Supporters
We couldn’t do everything that we do without the strength of our supporters – whether they are donors, sponsors, Board members, or local and international organisations. We will always be thankful for the support we receive from our community and acknowledge their support here.
