After successfully completing bronze and silver levels of the DofE, 16-year-old Jakub Rafoth is now completing gold level. He is also one of the faces of the DofE's 'Don't let others decide for you' campaign. What has he learned through the DofE and why would he recommend taking part in the programme?
Do you remember when you started at the DofE? Why did you decide to apply?
I started the DofE programme at the beginning of ninth grade. At first, I didn't really know what it was about - I just knew that you went on expeditions and that you had to do different activities regularly. Thanks to my friends who enthusiastically signed up to the DofE, I decided to join and find out what it was all about. I've always enjoyed hiking and hoped that the DofE would not only allow me to do more of it, but also help me to get away from school, which takes up most of my free time, for a while at least.
You passed bronze in the DofE, now you're waiting for the ceremony in silver and you've started to fill gold. If you had to sum it up, what did the DofE give you?
In my first few months on the DofE programme I noticed that I was doing more running. I didn't miss a single week where I didn't log my training hours. The DofE has not only helped me with better time management, but also with keeping in touch with my friends. We met regularly, planned expeditions together, prepared for them and discussed the whole programme. After completing two official expeditions and two preparatory expeditions, I not only gained valuable experience of being in the outdoors, but also learned to work better as a team, overcome challenges and push my own boundaries. The DofE programme has motivated me to be persistent, disciplined and better organised, skills that I can use in my everyday life.
How do you evaluate your participation in the program now (a little) in retrospect?
During the last two years of Bronze and Silver level fulfillment, I have engaged in activities that I would not normally engage in. Despite my increasing school commitments, I am glad that I have found time to play sports and take on new challenges, such as volunteering in the school art studio to help clean the art room. Thanks to the DofE, I developed a regular routine and completed activities every week, which helped me maintain discipline and prevented me from skipping some activities.
Could you briefly summarize what you did at each level?
In my first year in the DofE, while fulfilling my bronze level, I took German, running and helped out several times a month with running the children's club, which I had been attending since I was eight years old. Last year, while completing silver level, I focused on figure painting, regular visits to the gym, running and volunteering in the school art studio.
A good selection of activities made DofE fulfilment much easier
What are the most important things you have learned in the DofE?
For me, the most important thing was regularity and completing activities on time on a weekly basis. In the beginning, three hours of activities a week seemed almost impossible, but over time I realized that if you choose activities that you enjoy and are interested in, it is much easier to achieve.
Do you think you will use some of the experience you gained in the DofE in the future? Or have you already used some?
Thanks to two expeditions a year, for which we as a team always prepared for several weeks in advance, I learned not only to pack light, but also to work efficiently with a map and to navigate from point A to point B. I've used these skills a few times since starting DofE - for example, when I went on a packraft with my friends, but also even in some geography lessons.
I have improved my communication and cooperation with people
Do you feel that you have changed or shifted in any way thanks to the DofE?
From the beginning I started to feel more independent and had a great feeling of being able to track and record my own activities. I have progressed in many ways - not only in improving my German, but also in cooperation and communication with people, which I consider one of the most important skills one can learn at a young age. DofE also made me realise how important it is to set goals and work towards them - slowly, but with perseverance and regularity. This is useful not only in my studies but also in my personal life.
Have you been able to continue some of the activities you did in the DofE?
To this day I continue to speak German, run and go to the gym regularly. This year, while fulfilling the gold level, I focused on cooking the food I tasted in restaurants. I found it more interesting to buy ingredients in advance and combine cooking, which I enjoy, with completing one of the DofE activities. This skill will definitely come in handy in the future and I don't plan to stop. Plus, because of my coeliac disease, good gluten-free food will always interest me.
If you could choose two or three experiences that you like to remember in relation to the DofE, what would they be?
They would definitely be expeditions I always looked forward to. Spending a few days in the great outdoors with friends, whether it was on a weekend or during the school week, was always fun for me. While it wasn't easy carrying a tent, food and all the gear on my back, we always found a way to enjoy ourselves and take something away from it. The other experience that stayed with me was bonding with people I hadn't had contact with in a while. This happened two years ago when I rejoined the club where I used to spend part of my week. As a result, I re-established relationships that I might otherwise have lost, and to this day my friends from the troop and I still see each other regularly. The third memorable experience was the opportunity to try out new skills that I would not have picked up otherwise. Whether it was organising activities, planning expeditions, or improving my German language and cooking, all of these experiences have helped me not only in the DofE, but also in everyday life.
Expeditions were probably nothing new for you, you were already in a hiking club before. Or did they surprise you in any way?
Since I was young I used to go to three-week camps in the Novohradské hory mountains and on weekend trips around the Czech Republic. Mostly we travelled with backpacks carrying sleeping bags and food, and if I were to compare it to DofE expeditions, I wouldn't find much difference between them. The only thing that surprised me was that on almost every expedition - whether training or final - we were caught in rain, fog or strong winds. Fortunately, we also had beautiful days, and nothing ever deterred us from enjoying the expeditions to the fullest. However, DofE expeditions are a bit more demanding, mainly because we have to plan our route, places to sleep, how many kilometres we will walk and where we will eat along the way. We're currently planning a golden expedition to the Low Tatras in June, so we'll see how this challenge goes!
Motivation for the next levels were classmates
What has always motivated you to join the next level? After bronze to silver and then to gold?
The biggest motivation for me was that I was not alone - my classmates continued with me, which gave me the desire to go further. Once we had done bronze and silver together, I felt sad not to continue on to gold. I found that completing the activities not only entertained me but also pushed me further. And of course, expeditions have always been a great motivator. Spending a few nights in the outdoors with friends, planning my own routes and overcoming obstacles was something I always enjoyed and looked forward to!
What would you say to someone who is hesitant about joining the DofE?
Definitely go for it! The DofE is for everyone - you can do it anywhere, anytime, and you choose the activities you enjoy. You'll soon find that time spent with friends on expeditions will be unforgettable, and if you choose something you're really interested in, completing activities on a weekly basis will be no problem!
