The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DofE) certificate ceremony took place on Wednesday 14 February at the headquarters of the Zlín Region. The award was presented to 45 students from eight schools in the county who have volunteered, played sport or developed their skills while completing the DofE programme.
"It is inspiring to see students from our region receiving their Duke of Edinburgh International Award certificates. This award is not only a recognition of their efforts and commitment, but also a reminder of the importance of volunteering, sport and personal development in their lives. Their success is proof that the DofE programme offers a great opportunity for young people to grow and explore new horizons," said Zuzana Fišerová, the Zlín Regional Councillor for Education.
In the Czech Republic, the programme has been inspiring young people between the ages of 14 and 24 since 1995, with 5,300 new students joining in 2023. Each participant chooses a skill, sporting activity and volunteer help according to their interest, and then pursues these for a period of time, which is linked to the completion of Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Completion of the programme is followed by a team expedition.
One of the silver level graduates was Petr Kroča from the J. A. Komenský Gymnasium. A scout who started to lead his own troop while completing the bronze stage. As he says: "This year I will be leading the entire team during two summer camps. I'm running the program from wake-up to bedtime. I'm thinking about the story of the camp, who's going to be on duty when, that kind of thing." Peter is 18 years old and is the youngest deputy head of a scout centre in the Zlín region.
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. In 1988 an international association was established to promote the operation outside the UK.
Source : www.zkola.cz
