A Champion of Young People’s Infinite Potential

Author: The Award Canada  |  Source: The Globe and Mail

June 10, 2021, marks what would have been HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday. Despite his passing, the Award that bears his name continues to inspire, empower and transform young people across Canada and the world.

“Young people growing up in this modern and complicated world have many difficulties to face, and opportunities for personal achievement are often limited.”

Those words could have been written yesterday. In fact, they first appeared in Prince Philip’s foreword in the inaugural edition of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award handbook in 1956 and have been republished in every edition since.

For those who are unfamiliar with this global youth program, the Award is a charitable initiative that inspires young people aged 14 to 24 years old to develop their full potential by pursuing goals in four areas: community service, physical activity, engagement in nature and skills development. Along the way, achievers earn a Bronze, Silver and Gold Award, with the latter two categories typically presented by dignitaries that include a province or territory’s Lieutenant Governor or, when possible, a member of the Royal Family. “Because participants set their own goals, the Award is open to virtually all youth regardless of their abilitiesor limitations. As long as the youth’s goals meet the Award’s criteria, a volunteer Award Leader will be there to help mentor the participant asthey pursue their ambitions,” says Gold Award achiever Melissa MacAdam, a Nova Scotia-based lawyer who now volunteers as president of the Award’s national board in Canada.

From the outset, Prince Philip sought to inspire young people to, “to discover the satisfaction of achievement . . . to find purpose and passion in their lives.” According torecords, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh believed everyone brings unique strengths to this world; in creating the Award, he aimed to celebrate and validate each individual’s unique experience.

“Getting involved in this Award helped me structure my interests and activities into an achievement, which then translated to other areas of my life,” says Award achiever Sabrina Craig. “The Award also opened my eyes to my role in the global community. In turn, whenever there is something to be done, either at my work at BMO Capital Markets as a technology analyst, or as a director at Vaccine Hunters Canada, I’m able to scale up and achieve a greater impact.”

Helping youth navigate the pandemic and beyond

The need to help youth gain a sense of perseverance and resiliency has perhaps never been more apparent than it has during COVID-19. “Prince Philip famously described the Award as a ‘do-it-yourself kit for growing up,’” says Ms. MacAdam. “Over the last 15 months, we have seen first-hand how young people need opportunities and support to ensure they aren’t left behind. The Award framework allows young people to take the lead, find purpose, plot their own course and discover their infinite potential. It doesn’t get more DIY than that.” Like others, she is concerned that even prior to COVID-19, large numbers of young Canadians were spending some of their best years waiting in the wings of life, many without clear ambitions and direction. “Too often, young people are at risk of leaving school lacking the soft and transferable skills that employers look for. This skill gap is contributing to an increase in depression, anxiety and a sense of helplessness and dependency,” says Ms. MacAdam.

In some instances, youth who feel isolated from society and their local communities can wind up frustrated. “Taking part in activities such as sport, community service, adventure and learning new skills develops resilience, determination and adaptability, among other things,” says Ms. MacAdam. “The Award helps young people feel positive about themselves and ready to make constructive contributions now and throughout their adult lives.”

The Award also spurs youth to move beyond their comfort zone and develop a leadership mindset. “Connection is at the heart of leadership. Leaders set the tone; their behaviour determines how interactions are characterized by trust, psychological safety, understanding, compassion, empathy and respect,” says Sandra Corelli, founder and CEO of Humanicity Consulting Group, a workplace leadership consultancy. “Emotional intelligence is key to thriving in today’s uncertain world. Through community service, practical skills, physical recreation, adventurous journeys and leadership development, participants live the stories they write for themselves, building the confidence to trust themselves to reach beyond their greatest expectations. Every Duke of Ed journey is a chapter in the larger Award story of perseverance, initiative and resiliency.”

A lasting legacy and growing case for support

Recognizing a rising need in communities across the country, including the importance of reaching marginalized or otherwise at-risk youth, the Award is seeking to expand its capacity and enable even more young people in Canada to get involved. “Supporting the Award and the young people it serves, both financially and personally, is one of the greatest investments I can make in the future generation,” says Gregory Belton, CM, CVO, executive chairman of Hub International Ontario, and immediate past International Chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.

Today, the Award officially launches its “Founder’s 100” campaign, a three-year fundraising initiative to sustain Prince Philip’s vision for the Award.With an aim of raising $3-million, the campaign seeks to ensure the Award’s accessibility, reach and lasting impact, and that participation remains affordable. Reaching this overarching goal will require not only financial investments from individuals and corporations, but also more volunteer Award Leaders to champion and mentor young people and deliver the Award across Canada.

“By investing in the Award, Canadians are investing in the future community leaders of our country,” says Jamie Anderson, chair of The Duke of Edinburgh Legacy Board, a group of corporations, foundations and individuals committed to helping ensure the Award’s availability to Canada’s nearly 4.9 million young people, including some one million who are considered at risk. “We don’t have all the answers to life’s questions, but at the Award, we are making the lives of young Canadians better by enabling individual, societal and global transformation,” says Mr. Anderson. “We want even more Canadians to be a part of the transformation because when you care about who you are helping, it makes giving back more meaningful.”

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