Maloney new head of Duke of Edinburgh Award programme

A new executive has been elected to run the affairs of the National Awards Authority (NAA) of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme (St.Vincent and the Grenadines).{{more}}

The elections took place at a meeting held recently at the Girls’ Guides Headquarters.

Elected to serve a two year term are Chairman Nina Maloney, Vice Chairman Phillip Cambridge, Secretary Vulon Layne-Peterson, Treasurer Shirley Charles, PRO Richard Browne, and Committee members Althea Commissiong, Fredrick Forbes and Teroy Paul.

The award concept is one of individual challenge and presents to young people a balanced non-competitive programme of voluntary activities which encourages personal discovery and growth, self reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community.

The award is non-competitive. It is a personal challenge and not a competition against others. The organization shares the philosophy that there is no sense in which one person’s award is “better” than another’s because they walked further or achieved their award in a shorter time frame.

To achieve an award, participants need to show individual improvement based on their own starting ability and potential. The only competition is with themselves, to realise their potential and to conquer their challenges.

The (N A A) would soon embark on a drive to get young people to become involved in the programme, which can see participants interacting with their peers from around the world. This interaction can result in life long friendships.

The awards are structured in three levels Bronze (persons 14 years and older) Silver (persons 15 years and older) and Gold (persons 16 years and older).