One hundred and ninety-four young people from the Central Bohemian Region received the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, DofE for short, on Friday 24 January in GASK in Kutná Hora. The non-formal education programme is for people aged 13 to 24. It has been running in the Czech Republic since 1995.
Young people received their awards for the bronze and silver levels in the Central Bohemia Region Gallery. Each participant in the programme chooses a skill, sport and volunteer activity according to their interest. They then devote themselves to these for several months. They must also complete a team expedition.
"DofE develops young people, guides, inspires and motivates them to find something new in themselves. To stay with it, not to give up and to do something that you enjoy and push yourself," says Gabriela Drastichová, Director of the Czech office of the International Prize.
Gabriela Drastichová, Director of the DofE Czech Office.
920 pupils participated in Central Bohemia
Last year, a total of 920 primary and secondary school pupils, members of sports clubs and children from children's homes were involved in the programme in Central Bohemia. In total, there are 41 DofE centres in the Central Bohemia Region.
"The Central Bohemian Region has been supporting the DofE since 2021. Since then, we have provided CZK 1.4 million for the activities of regional schools and school facilities associated with the programme. It is a great opportunity for young people to develop, gain experience and make new contacts," said Milan Vácha, the regional councillor for education.
Tutoring children or even cooking. Students develop their talents
Terezie Sládková from the Gymnasium František Palacký in Neratovice also received a certificate and a badge for the bronze level. At the bronze level she set herself the goal of improving in push-ups and doing ten of them with the correct technique. In skills she learned to cook five new recipes from Asian cuisine and in volunteering she tutored children from socially disadvantaged families from the Low Threshold Centre for Children and Youth in Neratovice.
"This programme was a huge unknown for me, I couldn't imagine what it could mean for me. And its benefits cannot be put into words: I have deepened my relationships with my friends, discovered what I am capable of and developed in all areas of my life."
Terezia Sládková with the DofE Programme Manager.
At the Gymnasium František Palacký in Neratovice, Terezie is one of the first students to complete the programme. According to the head of the school, Šarka Trojanová, the school got involved because it wanted to offer students new opportunities.
"Gifted students can develop their talents, introverted students can work on what they enjoy, and everyone needs to step out of their comfort zone from time to time, and this makes them stronger in life and in their studies overall. We also liked the concept of volunteering that is included in the project. Helping others should be a part of our everyday lives, and yet it is increasingly disappearing nowadays," adds Šárka Trojanová.
The DofE was founded in 1956 and last year alone over 8,800 young people in the Czech Republic took part
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award programme was founded by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1956 to encourage the self-development of boys and girls regardless of their background, physical ability or skill. The programme was brought to the Czech Republic by golf champion Luisa Abrahams. Last year, over 8,800 young people took part in the programme across the country in nearly four hundred DofE centres. Nearly 900 volunteer DofE leaders - teachers, preventers, educators or coaches - accompanied them at 381 DofE centres.
