Canadian Award Holder- Amy Skinner

“As a proud recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, I am grateful for the way the Award has impacted my life. When I started my Bronze Award in 2015 I could have never imagined how it would impact the trajectory of my life and my goals. The Award was first introduced to my entire ninth grade as my middle school principal had been active with the Award for years. Being a go-getter, I began my Bronze Award as a resumé booster thinking that it would not hurt to complete my Bronze Award and determine whether to continue upon finishing the first Award. From my Bronze Award, my Adventurous Journey was the highlight as I got to take part in a Westcoast Sailing Trip with my classmates where we lived on a tall ship for a week. On this journey, I was able to not only have fun, but experience life aboard a tall ship at sea.  

As an avid volunteer at my church in children’s ministry, I was deeply involved in my community and loved how the Award recognized this. The way the Award fit into my lifestyle, recognizing the ways I was already contributing to my community and personal development, was ideal. Throughout my entire Award journey, I continued to volunteer in children’s ministry where I am now the Children’s Pastor.  

It was not until 2019 where the Award really impacted my views of community through giving the opportunity to attend Passion to Purpose Acadia alongside 100 other young leaders from across Canada. Passion to Purpose introduced me to community investment from a non-profit perspective by teaching us about grants, community projects and providing funding for our own projects. From this I found my passion for non-profit work by designing and executing my Summer Camp In A Box project for Kids Cancer Care Alberta for the past two years.  

It was incredible to use the skills I had gained at the Passion to Purpose Forum and Bootcamp to create my own community project and see it through from the beginning to the end. Going forward, I am pursuing a Master of Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership degree with the hopes of continuing to invest in the lives of children and families. I have already been doing this through my volunteer work in ministry and the non-profit sector but knowing that I enjoy the many facets of non-profit leadership and philanthropy from the Award gives me confidence that I will fit well in the sector. 

Through my Gold Award experience, I have made lifelong friends, gained skills that will set the foundations of my career and developed resiliency. I am grateful for the friendships and professional relationships the Award has given me. Most of all, I am very grateful for my principal for introducing the Award to all the grade nines in middle school because it has given me opportunities that I would have never thought possible. I have had so many amazing experiences while completing each of my Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. I have made lifelong friends, travelled, and gained skills that will set the foundations of my career.”

Share this...