Thirty-Three Youth Receive Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award from Ramkalawan
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Thirty-three young people are the new recipients of the prestigious gold award of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme. They received their certificates from President Wavel Ramkalawan during a ceremony at State House on Friday.
The award is a non-formal education programme for young people aged 14 to 24, and offers participants the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities, including voluntary service, physical recreation, skills development, and an adventurous journey. The programme is designed to complement formal education and to support the personal growth of young people. According to the award office, participants typically spend between 12 and 18 months working on the requirements, which include service in different projects, mentoring, volunteering, environmental work, fitness and creative projects.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President congratulated the recipients and reminded them that the gold award is not just a certificate, but a reflection of the discipline, resilience and commitment they have shown over the months and years of their participation in the programme. The award office said it expects a record number of new participants to enrol in the programme in 2025, as the momentum from this year’s gold award cohort inspires more young people to take on the challenge. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is recognised in more than 130 countries around the world.
