The Award Programme originated in the United Kingdom in 1956 as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (DEAS). The aim was to help young people bridge the gap between adolescence and adulthood smoothly and with the help of self-development activities. Introduced in India in 1962, today it is called the International Award for Young People (IAYP). It aims to encourage young people to achieve their full growth potential within the framework of Indian society, and to improve their moral, social and intellectual well-being.
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The objective was also to motivate young people aged between 14 and 25 years to involve in a balanced programme of voluntary self-development activities to take them through the potentially difficult period between adolescence and adulthood. The Award’s concept is one of individual challenge, giving young people a balanced, non-competitive programme of voluntary activities which encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community. Those who participate in the Award are expected to follow its requirements in a non-competitive manner with a determination to succeed, either individually or as part of a team.
Participants can undertake all three categories of the Award programme or enter directly at any of the three levels in the following age group; Bronze Award (for those over 14), Silver Award (for those over 15) and Gold Award (for those over 16 years).
The minimum period of participation is 6 months for Bronze, 12 months for Silver and 18 months for Gold. For each of these levels a participant is required to undertake activities under each of the four sections. At Gold level, participants undertake an additional Residential Project. The basic structure of the Award consists of 4 mandatory sections Service, Adventurous Journey, Skills and Physical Recreation. There are 3 levels of the Award – Bronze, Silver & Gold. Participants must complete the four mandatory sections of Service, Adventurous Journey, Skill & Physical Recreation.
How does this programme function?
The Award is a Programme of activities to be undertaken in your own time. It offers you the opportunity to set a personal goal and achieve it. Along the way, you'll learn about yourself and gain qualities like responsibility, trust and the ability to plan and organize yourself. There is no competition between participants, just personal challenge. The only person you'll compete with is yourself. Self-motivation is fundamental to the Programme. There are no standards to achieve. The criterion for you gaining an Award is based on your individual improvement based on your starting point and potential.
Participation in the Programme is entirely voluntary. You choose your own activities within the four areas and set your own goals. Each challenge requires a special dedication, both physical and mental, and while the structure of the Programme provides specialist help in different skills, the onus is on you to make your own way as best you can. Success in the Award comes through a conscious decision to accept and take up the challenges.
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