Tailoring as a skill
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Gardening
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Residential Project
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Residential Project
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Environmental management
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The international Award is an existing self development programme available to all young people aged 14-25, equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world.
To date 6 million young people have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities through the Award.
The fundamental principles of the Award.
Non-competitive
The Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others. Each participant's program is tailor made to reflect individual starting point, abilites and interests.
Available to all
With a commitment to equal opportunities, the Award program is available to all young people who choose to take up it's challenge.
Voluntary
Young people make a free choice to enter the program and commit their own time to under take the activities.
Flexible
Young people help to design their own program based on personal circumstances and local provisions. They may enter for which ever level of award that best suits them.
Balanced
By choosing activities across the four award sections(five at Gold), Participants undertake a balanced and wide ranging program.
Progressive
At each level, the Award program demands increased effort and commitment from the participants.
Achievement focused
Young people help to set their own goals before starting the activities. Achievement of the award is based on the attainment of the set goals.
Marathon, not a sprint
The Award demands persistence and commitment and can not be completed in a short burst of ethusiasm. Participants may wish to continue beyond the minimum times for each level
Personal development
The Award is aprogram of personal social development. The value of the award program to young people depends on personal commitment, learning process and quality of the experience.
Enjoyable
Young people and helpers should find the participation enjoyable and satisfying
The Award has 3 attainment levels:-
Bronze -For those aged 14, with a minimum participation period of 6 months
Silver -For those aged 15, with a minimum participation period of 12 months
Gold -For those aged 16, with a minimum participation period of 18 months.
Activity Choices Involved
The program activities vary from region to region and are dependant on participant choices and available resources. All activities chosen must fall under the four mandatory Award sections. Each of the activities has specific aims as seen below.
The Skills Section;
This Section encourages participants to pursue activities within a wide range of practical, cultural and social environments
The Skills Section offers participants a wide choice depending on their personal preferences, abilities and the opportunities available.
The Skill may be an existing interest or something entirely new
The Service Section;
This Section is based on the belief that members of a community have a responsibility to each other and voluntary help is needed.
Participants should identify a voluntary service and gain knowledge of the needs of those
they are assisting.
The value of participation in the Service Section comes from training, giving practical service and appreciating the needs of the community.
The Service Programmes fall into the following areas:
People in the Community
Emergency Services
Environmental
Fundraising
Safety Training
Following training, practical service must be undertaken. The balance between training and practical will vary depending on the activity.
The Physical Recreation Section;
This section offers a wide range of programmes in the belief that involvement in some form of enjoyable physical activity is essential for physical well-being.
A lasting sense of achievement and satisfaction is derived from meeting physical challenge.
Physical activates can be enjoyable in themselves and can lead to the establishment of a lasting active lifestyle. Activities may be sports based or physical fitness activities. These may include individual or group games like football, netball, basketball, hockey, cricket, athletics, kickboxing, boxing among others.
The Expeditions Section;
These are carried out in remote places giving the participants an opportunity to appreciate the unity and diversities that exist in the country. Expeditions can be done on foot, horse back, canoes or bicycles. The choice depends on the available resources
The principles:
All Qualifying Ventures involve preparing for, planning and undertaking an unaccompanied, self-reliant journey with an agreed aim.
Residential Project (Gold Award Only);
Participants at Gold level spend a minimum of five consecutive days (four nights) offering voluntary service in a residential setting with people who are not their usual companions.
This can be a community or environmental project.
They are given opportunities to take responsibility and show leadership.
The type of residential experience is a Participant's own choice. There should be no financial gain to the participants. The aim is to give an opportunity to acquire skills for self reliance while at the same time contributing to the well being of their community and the environment.
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