On Tuesday, more than 260 young people from the Košice region became recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DofE). At a ceremony in the premises of the Automotive Secondary School (SOŠ) in Košice, they received their bronze and silver awards, which are proof of their personal development, determination and ability to overcome challenges. TASR was informed by DofE communications manager Denis Mačor.
"This award is an encouragement for your resilience and sacrifice," British Ambassador Nigel Baker said in a speech. Obtaining the certificate was preceded by 626 days of volunteer work and personal development, during which the participants of the program together spent more than 17,177 hours actively developing their abilities and skills.
The DofE is an international education program founded in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of the British Queen. This year, in the program in Slovakia, more than 7,300 participants are working on each other at all three levels. An example is Sára Štofanová, a student at the J. A. Comenský Evangelical Gymnasium in Košice, who discovered her passion for theater and overcame her fear of public speaking. "DofE helped me manage stress and showed me that I have something to offer people. The theater gave me the opportunity to express myself in front of the audience and I found support in the collective that motivates me to grow," she revealed.
In the program, young people learn perseverance and patience in three key areas - sports, talent and volunteering. They end it all with an adventurous expedition, where they work together in teams and learn to solve problems in real situations. In total, more than 1,850 DofE bronze and silver level participants will be awarded during the fall in Slovakia. KSK chairman Rastislav Trnka also appreciated the efforts of the students involved. "Build your future on the things you enjoy. Every step you take will help you piece together your own mosaic of success and your life will gain new value," he said. According to Mačor, Slovakia is at the level of countries such as Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom in terms of the number of graduates.
Source: TASR
