27 February, Tábor - Sixty-eight young people received the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, or DofE for short, in Tábor on Tuesday 25 February. The non-formal education programme is for people aged 13 to 24. It has been running in the Czech Republic since 1995.
The awards were presented to the young people for bronze and silver level. Each participant in the programme chooses a skill, sport and volunteer activity according to their interest. They then dedicate themselves to these for several months. They must also complete a team expedition.
"DofE complements formal education across the Czech Republic. It offers young people the opportunity to discover their potential to succeed not only in academia but in life itself. It leads them to a responsible relationship with themselves and the community in which they grow up," says Gabriela Drastichová, Director of the Czech office of the International Prize.
322 young people in the South Bohemia Region in 2024
In the South Bohemia Region, a total of 322 primary and secondary school pupils were involved in the programme last year. In total, there are 19 DofE centres in the region.
"The beautiful thing about this program is that the students involved have to step out of their comfort zone. And that's admirable in this day and age," says David Štojdl, Deputy Governor for Education.
"After all, they could be lying at home in front of a computer or tablet. But instead they go on expeditions to the countryside, they volunteer - and that's exactly what can move them forward. The stories I've heard are truly inspiring. These students already understand what community and society means. And these are the kind of people we will need in the future," Štojdl added, thanking all the teachers and mentors who dedicate their free time to the development of young people in the South Bohemian Region.
At the Gymnasium Pierre de Coubertin in Tábor, for example, Hana Volfová joined the DofE. At the bronze level, she was rowing in movement, reading books in English and German in skills and volunteering to cook meals for the homeless or lead scout meetings.
"I got to know myself mainly on the final expedition. And probably the most significant realization for me was how much I love hiking, wandering and walking in nature, especially with a group of great people. And what a wonderful peace of mind it brings," described the student.
Tábor Grammar School has been involved in DofE for almost ten years. "For me personally, one of the greatest benefits of the whole programme is the opportunity to spend valuable time with children in nature, in beautiful destinations both local and foreign, when you forget about exams and grades and focus on the "here and now", and in the context of a great group of people, whether it is the students or their leaders," adds DofE leader Petra Nagyová.
About the Duke of Edinburgh International Award (DofE)
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.
