HRH The Prince Edward leads a call to ensure the world ‘invests in our most precious resource – our young people’

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/10/21

The call marks the launch of a new campaign to celebrate and grow the legacy of his father, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, through The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

Today, on what would have been the 100th birthday of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, his son, Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, is celebrating his father’s legacy and highlighting why his work championing the potential of young people through The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – also known as Award USA in the United States – is more important now, than ever.

“For many young people, the effect of the pandemic has been profound; indeed the true impact is unknown and the repercussions may last for years. Now, more than ever, young people need the skills and aptitude to be able to navigate a new normal and find their place in an exceptionally challenging and changeable world,” says The Earl.

The anniversary of The Duke’s birthday will instigate a global 3-year initiative, the ‘Founder’s 100 Infinite Potential campaign,’ to celebrate the impact of the Award, with the ambition of raising £25m to sustain Prince Philip’s vision. This will enable an additional two million young people across the world to access the Award program, with a particular focus on supporting those from at-risk and marginalized backgrounds.

“My father’s championing of young people shines through as one of his biggest legacies. His Duke of Edinburgh’s Award encapsulates his vision for inspiring and empowering young people and adults through participation in activities beyond the classroom. Although Prince Philip might have used different words when he created the Award, we’d describe those activities now as providing access to great non-formal education and learning, and we are proud to recognize young people’s achievements. There are millions of people, the world over, who’ve had their lives changed through the Award and it has been immensely affecting to see the outpouring of Award memories and inspiration that people have shared following his passing.”

“Now, more than ever, we need to invest in the world’s most precious resource – our young people – to ensure they have everything they need to tackle the current challenges they face and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities. My father was a pioneer in non-formal education and learning and even 65 years ago, he recognized that young people needed to be resilient, confident and adaptable. He recognized that these were attributes that you didn’t necessarily learn in a classroom – but rather, were developed through persistence, challenge and commitment in areas like voluntary service, sport, hobbies and adventurous pursuits. He founded the Award to help young people discover that they are capable of so much more than they ever realized.”

The Award is calling on educators, parents, community and business leaders – and ultimately young people – around the world to discover the potential impact of non-formal education and learning on themselves and their communities.

Prince Edward continues: “This sort of learning is not just a ‘nice to have’; it is positively advantageous in helping develop the vital skills needed to tackle the world’s current challenges and thrive in the years to come. The Award is working around the world to help translate that vision into a reality.”

To mark the passing of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Award holders around the world shared their memories of what the Award means to them. Here are a few of those excerpts:

“The confidence, motivation and determination to make a difference has stuck with me since I completed the program. I would not be the person I am today without the Award.” Isabel, Silver Award Holder, United States

“Because of the Award, I started my own tutoring organization, helping students all over the world with their SAT, AP and college essay preparation. We currently have over 700 members and are growing rapidly. This gives me a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue with my SMART goals. I am not only planning to complete my Silver and Gold Awards and but also to make a global impact one student at a time.” – Bilal, Bronze Award Holder, United States

“The Award has helped my physical, mental, emotional and social life. It has made me stretch, [and] reach some horizons I couldn’t have reached on my own, it has made me enlarge my coast, and this, I am really grateful and happy for. I don’t take it for granted.”, Abdulsalam Toheeb Olabisi, Gold Award Holder, Nigeria.

“Through the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award, my life changed. I gained self-confidence and I discovered my true passions. I learned that I was actually better than I thought: the Award program made me realize this and I told myself to never settle for anything less.” Sophie Kerstens, Gold Award holder, The Netherlands

“I can say my life completely changed after going through the Award and I am World Ready. Whenever any task is presented before me I instantly remember the Golden Rule we were taught, ‘Defeat is just a state of mind’ and it helps me find a solution.” Tanvir Sabharwal, Gold Award Holder, Kenya.

Every year, more than a million young people start their Award, supported by almost 200,000 volunteers across 130 countries and territories.

To find out more about the Award in the United States, visit USAward.org.

###

 About Award USA

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award, equipping young people for life. With a proven framework operating in more than 130 countries and territories around the world, the Award is available for all young people ages 14 to 24, regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests. It is a fully inclusive program and has no social, political or religious affiliations.

Its US division, #AwardUSA, is now in its fourth year. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic halting many traditional educational, employment and leadership opportunities, Award USA’s structure and skill-building opportunities are a critical resource for young people coming of age during these difficult times. As today’s young people face the unprecedented challenges from COVID-19 and beyond, as well as calls to address racial injustice, the Award is dedicated to ensuring that young people will have what they need for the future: to benefit from great non-formal education and learning. For more information on the impact of the International Award, including recent social value analysis, please visit www.intaward.org/impact/social-value.

 

Notes to Editors:

For more information, case studies or Award content in the United States, contact Tracy Jensen, Marketing and Communications Strategist, at tracy@frizzmarketing.com or (630) 426-9712.

For more information, international case studies or international Award content, contact Emma Brown, Director of Brand and Communications, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation at emma.brown@intaward.org.

×
Translate »