The DofE ambassador Magdaléna Ryjáčková also came to the ceremony in Tábor to receive her bronze badge and certificate. What she appreciates most about the programme is that she has learned discipline. Together with her, nearly seventy other students from the South Bohemia Region came to collect their awards.
The 17-year-old student from the Gymnasium Pierre de Coubertin in Tábor chose to ride over a series of jumps and obstacles as part of her exercise. In Skills, she prepared the percussion repertoire for midnight mass and in Volunteering, she tried to improve the quality of life for children from socially complicated backgrounds, for example by babysitting at the club, where she played ping pong and the card game UNO with them, or looked after them while their parents were on course.
"Thanks to the DofE I have learned discipline, to persevere in the things I enjoy and to go for my goals. If I hadn't started DofE, I don't think I would have ever got round to setting a goal and then achieving it," says Magdaléna. She has also currently completed her silver level and is also a DofE ambassador.
Space for experiences and things you can't do in class
Tábor Grammar School has been involved in DofE for almost ten years. According to head Petra Nagyová, the school learned about the programme thanks to an active student who found out about the DofE. "It opened the door to a world of non-formal education, experiences and a whole range of other meaningful things that cannot be done in the classroom and lessons. I'm delighted that those doors are still open and bringing more and more people to volunteer with us," she says.
She appreciates the valuable time she spends with her students in nature thanks to the programme: 'You forget about exams and grades and focus on the here and now, and with a great group of people - be it the students or their leaders,' she adds.
