Lodge students and teachers in a candid group photo taken at the award presentation ceremony with various representatives from DofE.
KUCHING: Fourteen Lodge National Secondary School (Lodge) students, representing Sarawak, received the Gold Award of the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) International Award, also known as ‘Anugerah Remaja Perdana Rakan Muda’.
They were among 188 youths from throughout Malaysia to receive the award at a ceremony held in The Everly Hotel Putrajaya recently, a press statement from the school said.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin officiated at the ceremony and presented the awards to the recipients. Also in attendance were DofE’s head of operations in London, Tim Smith, and its Asia Pacific regional director Sue Walker.
Miss Universe Malaysia 2015 Vanessa Tevi was among those who received the Gold Award. Recipients were also presented certificates signed by Youth and Sports Ministry director-general (National Department of Youth and Sports) Datuk Hatipah Ibrahim and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip together with German educationalist Kurt Hahn who was instrumental in putting the programme together
Youths aged between 14 and 25 are eligible to participate in the programme. The award aims to give recognition to youths and to equip them with life skills in order to make a difference in themselves, their community and the world.
Before participants can achieve the Gold Award, they have to meet the requirements for Bronze and Silver respectively then complete a minimum 60 hours in each of the three sections of the award – Skills, Sports and Community Service.
The hard and demanding journey will take at least four years. Participants also have to complete the Adventurous Journey Section as well as the Residential Project Section.
After submitting their log book and report, potential candidates will be called for an interview and if qualified, they have the chance to receive the Gold Award.
To date, the programme has spread to more than 130 countries.
At Lodge, the DofE’s International Award was initiated in 2011. Since then, the award has been carried out and incorporated into all uniformed bodies, clubs, sport and games in the school.
“The journey of achieving all Bronze, Silver and Gold awards has helped me to mature in so many ways, through the countless activities and functions carried out under this programme. Without the programme, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be who I am today,” said Brian Otteran, one of the Gold Award recipients from Lodge.
Two teachers from the school were also awarded National Mentor of Gold Medallists certificates. They are co-curricular coordinator of Lodge Group of Schools Willie Liew and programme coordinator Wong Jade Chian. Both are also certified programme trainers for Sarawak.
Lodge Group of Schools director Thomas Huo expressed his gratitude to all teachers involved, parents, the School Committees of Lodge Group of Schools, and Sarawak Youth and Sports Department for their hard work and endless support for the programme. He hoped Lodgians would continue to excel in both their academic and co-curricular activities.