19 March, Prague - Two hundred and fifteen young people received the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, DofE for short, in Prague. 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. "The DofE develops young people, guides, inspires and motivates them to find maybe something new in themselves. Stay with it, don't give up and do something that you enjoy and push yourself," says Gabriela Drastichová, Director of the Czech office of the International Prize.
1,657 young people from Prague joined DofE in 2024
In Prague, a total of 1 657 primary and secondary school pupils, members of sports clubs, were involved in the programme last year. In total, there are 70 DofE centres in the city.
"Every activity that young people do beyond their schoolwork is an invaluable contribution to their lives. It boosts their motivation, teaches them responsibility and helps them to push themselves further. I appreciate their commitment and determination and congratulate all the winners. I wish them to continue to develop their potential and achieve further success," says Antonín Klecanda, Prague City Councillor for Education, Sport and Leisure.
"It's inspiring to see young people actively engaged in their development and determined to achieve their goals. The DofE programme gives them the opportunity to discover their strengths, gain new experiences and strengthen their relationship with society. I warmly congratulate all the awardees and wish them every success in their future endeavours."
DofE makes me more disciplined, says student Tomáš
At the Prague Secondary School of Industry in Prosek, Tomáš Kubálek joined the DofE. At the bronze level, he did running in movement, and in skill he built a competition robot, with which he came fourth in the international competition. "Thanks to the DofE, I'm a bit more disciplined and I know what I'm capable of now," says Tomáš.
According to Vladimír Křivka, head of the DofE there, the Secondary School of Industry in Prosek got involved because the DofE programme fits in with their concept of education.
"As a leader, I have the opportunity to watch students push themselves, overcome obstacles and discover their potential. It's great to see when they realise they can do so much more than they originally thought. The DofE also allows me to link learning to real experiences - whether it's volunteering, outdoor expeditions or developing different skills," she adds.
About the Duke of Edinburgh International Award
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.
