Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a non-competitive, internationally recognised programme designed to encourage young people to develop positive skills and lifestyle habits. Now in our third year offering the program at GEMS World Academy - Dubai, 2019-20 saw another large group of ambitious students take up the challenge of pursuing the Bronze Award, with a smaller number choosing to continue on to the Silver Award from the previous year.

In addition to engaging in physical recreation, developing individual skills, and participating in a variety of service-based activities, students attended weekly Enrichment Opportunities in which they received specific training designed to prepare them for the multi-day hikes they would undertake this year. The Practice Journey took place in Fujairah in at the end of February, and stretched many of the students to their physical and emotional limits. All who started managed to successfully finish the journey in one state or another, and were looking forward to the Qualifying Journey which was scheduled to take place a couple of weeks later, until the COVID-19 crisis unfortunately forced a change in plans. We hope to pick up where we left off at the start of the Academic year, and to invite even more students to consider undertaking the Award.

To learn more about the International Award visit https://intaward.org/