Award Programme Thanks Hardworking Volunteers on International Volunteer Day
(Bridgetown, 6 December, 2018) International Volunteer Day, Wednesday December 5th, saw the staff of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Barbados playing Secret Santa as part of a special holiday thank you to the many volunteer Award leaders in the island’s secondary schools. The Award team delivered small gifts and tokens of appreciation for the dedicated volunteers who work with them to change young people’s lives.
Operations Manager Carla Alleyne said, “This year, as the Award celebrates 55 years in Barbados, the theme of Volunteer Day is ‘Build Resilient Communities,’ and we’re putting a real emphasis on recognizing the great sacrifices that our volunteers make to fulfill that role.” In a global survey of more than 3,000 young people aged 16 – 25 [1] , The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award found 80% of those surveyed believe in their ability to make a difference in the world. In Barbados, 84% of Bajan youth surveyed believe in their power to make a difference in the world and more than 60% believe that their peers are absolutely willing to give back to their communities and offer their time volunteering. These Award leaders are part of the reason why young people are so willing to volunteer. As volunteers, Award leaders build the confidence of young Barbadians by mentoring them as they too develop into school and community leaders. Doing the Award requires participants to volunteer their time regularly and in so doing reinforces the desire to help others. Last year Award participants contributed more than 1,300 hours in volunteering time.
Award leader at the Springer Memorial School unit, Troy Roach, was applauded by Principal Ms Mitchelle Maxwell for his willingness to give back. “You do not have a lot of [volunteering] these days, so when you have young persons on staff who are prepared to give of their time, those persons add value in school and outside of school. We are very lucky and fortunate to have [Troy] as a part of our team.”
The Award’s structure is known to be extremely useful in preparing young people for the next stage of life - making them #WORLDREADY young adults. Over the next year, through the #WORLDREADY campaign, the Award will be showcasing just how it is equipping young people all over the world as they grow into resilient people who are indeed ready for the world. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Barbados is grateful to The Grape Vine which donated to the day’s effort to celebrate those who give so selflessly. Admitting that it just was not possible to get to every single volunteer, Carla Alleyne indicated that they are looking forward to going bigger and better in 2019.
Award leaders and inspirational young people are available for interview upon request.
For more information please visit: www.theawardbarbados.com or www.worldready.org.
[1] Survey of 3,487 16-25 year olds and 1,825 adults (25+), July – September 2018. In partnership with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award family around the world.
Contact: Carla Alleyne – dofebarbados.ops@gmail.com OR Fabian Norville – deiabarbados@gmail.com
and via telephone to 436-8754. Notes for Editors
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Barbados has been running for 55 years and currently sees more than 300 14-24 year olds participate every year.
Thousands of participants have completed the Award in Barbados since it started in 1963.
In Barbados the Award has been running for 55 years. It currently sees more than 300, 14-24 year olds participate every year. It is available at 14 of the islands’ private and public secondary schools. Additionally, it is offered through the Barbados Cadet Corps, The Girl Guides Association of Barbados and Barbados Boy Scouts Association.
Young Barbadians volunteer in a range of activities, including doing beach clean ups, helping other charities, feeding the homeless, maintaining gardens, caring for animals, teaching primary school kids, or working with the disabled.
Through voluntary service The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Barbados is making safe spaces for youth in Barbados.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global, non-formal education framework which challenges young people to develop new skills, get physically active, learn about teamwork and leadership through adventurous journey and volunteer within their community.
The #WORLDREADY campaign is a global effort amongst the Award family, to showcase the inspirational activities of young Award participants around the world and how, through the development of skills such as resilience, confidence, adaptability and communication, young people can be ready to take on the world of today and tomorrow.
The #WORLDREADY global launch video can be viewed here.
There are currently 1.3 million young people completing their own unique programme, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators - including schools, youth organisations, examination boards and youth offender institutions.
Our ambition is to make the Award accessible to every 14-24 year old, regardless of ability, experience or culture.
Since its launch over 60 years ago, millions of young people have participated and received Awards, with millions more benefiting from its impact in communities around the world.
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