7 February, Liberec - Seventy-eight young people received the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, DofE for short, on Friday 7 February. The non-formal education programme is for people aged 13 to 24. It has been running in the Czech Republic since 1995.
In Liberec, young people received awards for bronze and silver level. Each participant in the programme chooses a skill, sport and volunteer activity according to their interest. They then spend several months working on them. 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.
261 young people joined the DofE programme last year
In the Liberec Region, a total of 261 primary and secondary school pupils, members of sports clubs or children from children's homes were involved in the programme last year. In total, there are 11 DofE centres in the Liberec Region - primary and secondary schools and leisure centres.
Michaela Brucknerová from the Sluníčko Leisure Time Centre in Lomnice nad Popelkou also received a certificate and a badge for the silver level. The twenty-five year old dofačka in motion followed up on her goal from bronze and walked at least around seven kilometres every week. She read 25 books and volunteered as a club leader at the leisure centre as part of her skills goal. "I've learned that I can do things I'm scared of. I'm not a person who likes to sleep in the outdoors, so the expedition was a big nightmare for me. I don't know how, but I did it. I'm so proud of myself when I think about it. It gave me the confidence I needed," says Michaela.
The Sluníčko Leisure Time Centre is one of the longest running centres in the Czech Republic. The organisation has been in the DofE since 1998. The current head is Jana Šimůnková. "For me it is a wonderful feeling to see happy young people around me who suddenly find their place in society. They want to be involved in the life of our organisation. It's just a joy to give out joy," she adds.
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.
