Young Leaders Awarded Gold
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert W Gibson CMG awarded 177 students the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award at a ceremony at his residence.
The British High Commissioner Mr Robert W Gibson CMG awarded 177 students the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award at a ceremony on Monday evening. This is the third time the formal ceremony has been held at the High Commissioner’s Residence, with this year the largest number of awards being presented across 56 institutions who offer the award.
Since 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has seen millions of people in over 140 countries and territories from all types of backgrounds engage in a variety of challenging activities and personal development. In Bangladesh, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Foundation is relatively young having only been set-up in August 2008. However it has grown quickly with now having more than 10000 awardees. Last year over 3300 students enrolled across all the award levels in 56 educational establishments across six divisions.
HE Mr Robert W Gibson CMG commented:
“The hard work and dedication not just of the those being awarded but to all those who volunteer and assist in making it happen is testament to the vision of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. I am delighted the foundation in Bangladesh has been awarded a licence for 6 years to continue and build on that good work. I also want to express sincere thanks to the Trustees who have not only guided the foundation to where it is, but also have recognised and development opportunities to enable as many people to access the Award as possible.”
Mr. Mirza Salman Ispahani, Chairman, Board of Trustees said:
“Successfully we have got the Full License for six years, and we are the best practitioner in our region out of four countries and as well in positioning status we are in number four out of the nine full licensees over the world.”
Mr. Abrar A Anwer, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees wished:
“As its recipients, you have joined to an exemplary group of people who have demonstrated that they are ready to reach for the highest. That they are focused to succeed great, inspired to dream biggest, dedicated to serve noble.”
The chairman of the Executive Committee of The DEA Bangladesh Mr. Rizwan Bin Farouq said:
“It’s very hard to achieve the Gold Award especially through a harder evaluation session. So this Award goes to the most deserving candidates and they will be obviously benefitted in their future carrier.”
The National Director, Professor Dr. K M Shariful Huda, unveiled future plans of DEA Bangladesh chapter and said also:
“The Award encourages self-improvement alongside the notion of being a responsive and engaged member of the community – of using one’s skill and talent for the greater good of our society. And this last point is one that I would like all recipients to take with them from today and to practice till death.”
NOTES to Editors:
- The British High Commissioner HE Mr Robert W Gibson CMG is Her Majesty’s representative to Bangladesh.
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was founded by [HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT(http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/TheDukeofEdinburgh/TheDukeofEdinburgh.aspx), in 1956, in conjunction with Kurt Hahn, the German educationalist. Both were concerned that young people’s development was lacking in certain key areas, and they resolved to create a programme that would be a ‘do-it-yourself kit in the art of civilised living’. http://www.intaward.org/our-founder
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Foundation, Bangladesh is a non-profit organisation that administers “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award” in Bangladesh. Board of Trustees of consists of Mr. Mirza Salman Ispahani, Managing Director, M. M. Ispahani Limited, Mr. Abrar A Anwer, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Azizul Huq, Managing Director, GlaxoSmithKline Bangladesh, Mr. A K Shamsuddin Khan, Chairman, A K Khan Group and Mr. Sayeeful Islam, Managing Director, Concord Garments Group. http://deabd.org/
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an exciting self development programmed available to young people in over 140 countries and terrotrie equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and their world. Since began in 1956, this award has been dedicated to the personal development of young people coming from all backgrounds all around the world. The Award is flexible and can be done by anyone aged 14-25 in their own time: gender, cultural background, religious or political affiliation, mental or physical ability or social circumstances should never be a barrier in participating. Moreover, the individual chooses what activities to do depending on his/her interests and resources. There are three Awards to achieve: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Gold Award takes the longest to accomplish and is the harder one of the three. Completion of Bronze and Silver are prerequisites before completing the Gold Award.
- All applicants must undertake an element Social Service as part of each award level. Social Service is all about giving back to the community. Whatever passions you may have, whether it’s care and concern for the environment, a love of animals, a desire to make a difference to live of those less fortunate, referee your favourite sport or help the sick or elderly.
- Inspiring story from Farhana Meghami, a Gold Award participant An eye-opening period of service in a Bangladeshi old people’s home led Farhana to create a groundbreaking project to empower not just its elderly female residents, but many other women in her local community. http://www.intaward.org/award-story/gold-entrepreneur-empowering-women-bangladesh
- Many other inspiring stories from participants around the world. http://www.intaward.org/award-stories