The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Dominica, recently wrapped up a summer youth exchange programme with their counterparts from Saint Lucia. The event took place from July 11 to July 23 and involved a group of 24 individuals, including National Director Mrs. Kerry Ann Remie-Timothy and three Youth Development Division Officers: Lillia Durand, Sean Stedman, and Lean Robin.
These officers have been actively supporting Award groups in areas such as Roseau, Grand Fond, Kalinago Territory, and Petite Soufriere. They were joined by three experienced Award Leaders—Crispin Jules, Brandon Remie, and Cuthbert Viville—along with participants from the aforementioned community groups. The group camped at the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, sharing the space with 25 local Award participants from various high schools in St. Lucia.
During their time together, the campers received training in essential outdoor skills, including survival techniques, map reading, compass navigation, and first aid, all in preparation for a qualifying expedition that spanned three days and two nights, hiking from Castries to Monchy and Boguis along local trails.
Each day began with fitness activities to ensure everyone was ready for the hiking challenges ahead. While the primary goal of the exchange was for participants to meet the requirements for the Bronze and Silver Level Awards, they also had the chance to enjoy two days of Carnival festivities and participated in a community service project in Choc, where they helped clean up the beach.
This summer exchange was particularly significant as it marked a return to such events after the Caribbean Award Sub-Regional Council (CASC) paused their usual summer gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The trip to Saint Lucia provided an opportunity for participants who have been engaged with the programme since 2019 to stay on track with their Award progress.
Established in 1958 by the late Duke of Edinburgh, His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, the Award is a non-formal educational framework focused on service, self-improvement, adventure, and challenge. It is aimed at young people aged 14 to 25, regardless of their background, education, or financial situation. The programem is adaptable to meet the unique needs of each participant, and over the past 65 years, millions of young people have taken part and benefited from its positive impact on communities worldwide.
The Award consists of three levels: Bronze, which begins at age 14, followed by Silver and Gold, which must be completed before the age of 25. Participants engage in four main areas: skills development, community service, physical recreation, and an adventurous journey or expedition. The Gold level also includes a residential project. The service component emphasizes community contribution, while the skills section encourages personal growth through exploration of individual interests. The physical recreation aspect allows participants to engage in any form of physical activity, and the adventurous journey involves multi-day hiking and camping experiences that increase in complexity with each level.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been active in Dominica since 1966, enjoying a strong reputation despite occasional periods of inactivity. Since 2008, the Youth Development Division has been a key partner in the programme, which is also supported by the Dominica Cadets, Scouts, and Girl Guides Association, as well as various community groups. In 2021, the local Award received funding from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation through the Special Projects – Three Funds Grant to support the “DofE R.I.S.E. (Reaping Independence for Schools and Clubs Everywhere)” initiative. This funding has facilitated the establishment of three new chapters (Roseau, Grand Fond, and Petite Soufriere), revitalized the Kalinago Territory group, and provided essential expedition and training equipment, enabling local practice expeditions and a regional exchange.
Looking ahead, the National Executive aims to collaborate with local high schools through the Ministry of Education to incorporate the programme into their offerings. A Demonstration Day is scheduled for November to showcase the Award’s teachings to the public, and a Pinning Ceremony for those who have completed various levels of the programme will take place in December.