The President’s Award has played a role in bringing about change in the lives of over 130 000 young people in South Africa, and two of these young people are Parel Valleiers, Megan Lane and Shannon Barry.
Parel Vallei High School, in Somerset West, supports this programme’s main goal of teaching young people self-development, as this leads to self-empowerment.
This award is a proud member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Association, as part of a family of over 140 countries that drives the programme around the world.
To complete this programme, pupils between the ages of 14 and 25 must take part in activities consisting of the following four areas: skills development; physical recreation; community service; and an adventurous journey.
Megan was awarded a bronze level award, and to achieve this, a participant must complete three months in the areas of physical recreation, skills and service. One of these areas must extend over six months.
They must also undertake an adventurous journey over two days and one night.
Megan’s activities included community service through children’s ministry; studying German as her skill; squash for physical recreation; and a Kontiki rafting trip over two days as her adventurous journey.
Shannon was awarded a silver level award, for which a participant must complete six months in all four areas, and the adventurous journey must extend over three days and two nights.
Her activities included volunteering at Park Run as her community service; AP mathematics as her skill; hockey for physical recreation, and an adventurous journey in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve/ Kleinmond area.
