DofE produces Leadership for a Transformed Africa

In October 2013, His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex visited Zambia as a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Association. The purpose of his trip was to upscale the profile of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award for Young People (DofE) in Zambia and to ceremoniously present Gold Awards to 20 young Zambians who had successfully completed the DofE’s highest level. 

As anticipated, Prince Edward’s trip was progressive and attracted an array of new members. It also created significant opportunities for the 20 Gold Award recipients, including securing a platform for two awardees to attend the DofE triennial International Gold Event in Seoul, South Korea in October this year. 

The International Gold Event (IGE) is a global leadership programme designed to mold the generation of decision makers and influencers who will help to shape and deliver the future of DofE worldwide. It accords Gold Award holders from around the world a platform to interact, exchange ideas, establish sustainable networks and contribute to the development and impact of the Award locally, nationally and internationally. 

Themed, ‘Leadership for a Transformed Award’, the 2014 IGE was held from 23rd October to 2nd November 2014. It attracted 85 participants from across the seven continents. Representing Zambia at this forum were 2013 Gold Award recipients, Mwaba Mwila and Veronica Bwalya who had been nominated by the DofE-Zambia National Award Authority.

Mwaba, an Outdoor Instructor at Ndubaluba Outdoor Centre in Mkushi and Coordinator for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award – Zambia was chosen following his committed efforts to contribute to the development of the Award programme in the country. While Veronica, a former student of Mambilima School for the Disabled, who is fondly remembered for the handmade doormats she crafted and presented to HRH Prince Edward during his visit, was selected based on the ripple effect DofE has had on her and her dedication to ensure the Award is available to the marginalized youth in Zambia. 

Hosted by the Korean Youth Agency of Cheonan, South Korea, the 2014 International Gold Event officially commenced on Friday, 24th October 2014. It begun with a comprehensive Orientation Session that had delegates split into nine multinational, multi-cultural groups each with the task to explore the impact areas of DofE. The findings from this research were to be presented to a panel comprising the trustees of the DofE foundation and HRH Prince Edward at an upcoming Emerging Leaders Forum. 

An inspiring Opening Ceremony concluded the first day with a remarkable traditional martial arts Taekwondo performance giving delegates a warm welcome to South Korea and heightening their expectations for the week ahead.

Official Leadership Training started on Saturday 25th October 2014. Facilitated by the Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, John May, this training presented participants with an in-depth explanation of what the Foundation expected from them and saw them outline their objectives for the entire IGE. It was segmented into three sessions titled; ‘Action Centered Leadership’, ‘The Roles People Play’ and ‘High Performing Teams’. 

 The Duke of Edinburgh International Award strongly believes in making an impact in the lives of all those involved in it. The Award maintains that simply believing is not enough and prides itself on being able to measure its capacity as well as to produce tangible results of its impact and the significant role it plays in changing the lives of young people everywhere. On this merit, DofE has developed Nine Impact Measures of the Award that span many sectors of society and are a more specific approach to measuring the Award’s influence. 

 To recognize DofE’s impact in South Korea, the delegates visited a number of youth development centres around the city including the Rainbow Youth Centre, and the Multi-Culture and Health Centre on their third day. These visits exposed them to the positive effect South Korean award participants are having on their communities and helped them gather insight for their assigned research topics. 

On Thursday, 30th October 2014, the Emerging Leaders Forum took place. This forum was the main highlight of the entire IGE and was attended by all delegates, DofE Regional Directors and International Council, and HRH Prince Edward. Here, the five multinational groups that were created at Orientation presented their research findings before the various dignitaries and engaged in dialogue with the Prince. 

 The Emerging Leaders Forum also saw the election of 2014-2017 Emerging Leaders Representatives. The successful candidates were: Matthew Burfield (Australia), Sehui An (South Korea), Mwaba Mwila (Zambia), Veekansha Purun (Mauritius), Arvis Mortimer (The Bahamas), Jessica Silva (Canada), Warren Muscat (Malta) and Peadar O'Lamhna (Ireland). 

 Mwaba’s appointment is a first for Zambia and the SADC region. Together with his colleagues, he will now sit on the International Council, act on behalf of members of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Association (IAA). 

 The International Council is the governing body of the Award programme, comprising Trustees, 12 Regional Directors and 8 Emerging Leader Representatives (2 representatives from each region). It is chaired by HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and sits once a year. 

 The International Gold Event ended on Friday, 30th October with a colourful Closing Ceremony graced by Prince Edward and the International Council. The International Council Meeting and a tour of Seoul followed on Saturday, 1st November. All the IGE delegates then departed for their respective home countries. 

 Mwaba and Veronica touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 14h45 on Tuesday, 4 December 2014. Family, friends and representatives from the National Award Authority received them. 

Of their trip, the two delegates found the 2014 IGE exciting, educational and referred to it as a vibrant networking platform that challenged them through thought-provoking activities. 

 Sharing their IGE experience, the Zambian delegates emphasized that despite the progress DofE has made in Zambia in the last 20 years there remains a vacuum for committed leadership to establish the Award’s presence in the country. 

 With their newly acquired leadership skills, knowledge and revitalized passion, Mwaba and Veronica plan to work towards bringing DofE to its rightful place as Zambia’s leading youth programme. The pair believe that their trip to South Korea was the genesis of many things to come for DofE-Zambia including the transformation of the Award in Zambia and Africa. 

 Article Contributed by Cutting Edge via Alice Kalufyanya