Friday Headlines

28 May 2021

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme (DofE) has long been a feature of life here at EHS and recently two of its participants have taken on a broader advocacy role as DofE Ambassadors. Zahra has been at EHS since she was 8 years old and Asmaa joined at the tender age of 2.5. Now both aged 17 and in Year 12, they told us why they are so passionate about the scheme and what their roles involve.

Q: For people who’ve never done it, can you tell us what the Duke of Edinburgh scheme is? How do you sign up and what do you do?

Z&A: It is a youth awards programme founded by the late Prince Phillip. It is available for 14 to 24-year-olds to complete the bronze, silver and gold awards. You can sign up by talking to your head of year or going straight to Mrs Griffiths who is always in the library at Friday break and lunchtime. If you sign up you will need to complete physical, skills and volunteering sections over a certain number of months. This means that you will need to do a physical activity (such as netball), practise a skill (such as learning a language) and volunteer for an hour each week. Then you will complete an expedition for a few days and nights which include camping and walking whilst navigating by map. 

Q: Why did you want to become ambassadors for the scheme? 

Z&A: As we greatly enjoyed DofE and wished to give back to the school programme as they have helped us a lot in achieving our bronze and silver awards. We are also keen to promote DofE as it was a life-changing experience for both of us that taught us many essential life skills. 

Q: As Ambassadors for DofE at EHS, what do your roles involve?

Z&A: We will be aiding our DofE leader to promote DofE, we will also help students and give advice when completing their awards. 

Q: What do you want to achieve as Ambassadors for DofE?

Z&A: To promote DofE even more throughout the school and encourage more people to take part. To do this we are planning to start an EHS DofE Instagram page where we will display the success of pupils, increase communication between us and the students and promote DofE to the school. We also wish to help the participants to make sure their DofE is as fun and easy for them as possible. 

Q: How has being part of the DofE scheme helped you personally? What have you gained from being part of the scheme?

Z&A: Whilst volunteering we have gained many skills such as communication, empathy and confidence. Whilst completing the sections we have developed and learnt new skills, such as karate and violin. These activities helped us push personal boundaries and step out of our comfort zone as we tried something new. 

Q: Once you’ve finished the DofE scheme, what skills or attributes that you’ve gained from being part of the scheme do you think you will continue to use?

Z&A: Leadership gained from this role and throughout DofE will be carried forward in life as well as the confidence we have developed in ourselves. We have also gained resilience, problem-solving and team-working which are all essential attributes for moving forward in life and in work. 

Q: Why do you think getting involved in the DofE scheme is a good idea?

Z&A: We believe that DofE is an amazing scheme to participate in as it is a unique, new experience that will positively challenge you and push you to better yourself. This will mean that you gain and develop essential life skills such as teamwork, communication and leadership. You will also have a lot of fun on the expedition and make many hilarious and unforgettable memories with your friends. As you complete your sections you will develop confidence and find new interests in what you do.

Q: Finally a little bit about you – what A levels are you studying? What do you like to do in your spare time and what do you hope to do in the future?

Zahra: I am studying biology, chemistry, maths and EPQ. I love painting, drawing and reading in my spare time. In the future, I would like to study medicine at University.

Asmaa: I am studying chemistry, psychology and sociology. I love going to the gym and for walks in my spare time. In the future, I would like to study nursing at University.