Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation’s 13th Forum event
The Head of State Award Scheme - Ghana prepares to host HRH The Earl of Wessex for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation’s 13th Forum event.
Next week, Ghana will host The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation’s 13th Forum from 31 October to 3 November. Taking place in Accra, the triennial Forum will bring together international leaders to plan the future growth of the Award worldwide.
The theme “Shaping the future; shaping our world” will discuss some of the challenges affecting young people today and how the development of “universal skills” (or soft skills, as they are often referred to), such as resilience, confidence and communication can help young people to be ready for the world.
The Award’s global ambition is that every 14 to 24-year-old has the opportunity to participate and challenge themselves and build on universal skills that will serve them and their communities for years to come.
Forum 2018 officially begins with an Opening Plenary on November 1, where delegates will be addressed by President of the Republic of Ghana H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, who is also Chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation; The Rt. Hon. Lord Boateng, International Trustee and Chair of the Award’s International Council.
Throughout this four-day event, delegates will visit Award units across Accra, where they will speak to participants about their Award experiences. In addition, the Forum event will run multiple workshops covering topics such as Safeguarding and Employability as well as the Award’s latest research. Delegates will hear from a panel of experts across various fields relating to youth development and education, including the Varkey Foundation’s Muni Issifu, Juan Visser from Cambridge Assessment International and Dr Susanne Schweizer from UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience.
John May, Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, outlines the importance of the triennial event:
Today’s young people face a complex array of challenges; many unseen by previous generations.
This year’s theme: “Shaping the future, shaping our world” summarises the tremendous opportunity that young people around the world offer to our global society; we believe young people are passionate, value-driven and they want to make a difference in the world.
As a leading proponent in non-formal education, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award can help young people to find their purpose, passion and place in the world. Forum 2018 will focus on how we can better enable young people to do so and also how we can reach more young people so that every 14-24 year old has the opportunity to participate.
Mr May continues:
Forum 2018 marks the first time that the Award’s International Association has come together in West Africa. We are very much looking forward to visiting young Ghanaian Award participants and hearing about the inspirational activities they are undertaking.
Peter A. Anum, Executive Director of The Head of State Award Scheme - Ghana said:
We are excited to host Forum 2018 as we focus on how we prepare young people for the future by shaping them, considering the challenges young people face in the socio economic space of our country, key to this is employment. This is also an important moment for us to build on HOSA’s 50 years of success and demonstrate our commitment to the growth and development of young people in Ghana. It is hoped that the Forum will raise the profile of The Head of State Award Scheme – Ghana, attracting more young people to take on the challenge as well as more supporters.
For more information on The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and to find out how you can get involved visit their website.
For more information about the Award in Ghana visit the HoSA website.
For more information:
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation:
Emma Brown, Director of Brand and Communications: E: emma.brown@intaward.org T: +44 (0) 7824 324 888 For more information visit Twitter: @Intaward
The Head of State Award Scheme - Ghana:
Peter A. Anum, Executive Director E: peteranum.gh@gmail.com M: +233 24 286 2719
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global non-formal education framework which challenges young people to discover their potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world.
- There are currently 1.3 million young people completing their own unique programme, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators, including schools, youth organisations, examination boards and youth offender institutions.
- Since its launch over 60 years ago, millions of young people have participated and received Awards, with millions more benefiting from its impact in communities around the world.
- The Head of State Award Scheme (HOSA)-The International Award in Ghana:
- In 1967 Head of State Award Scheme was launched and successfully operates in seven Regions.
- There are almost 124 active licensed organisations delivering the Award in Ghana.
- Over nineteen thousand young people took part in the Award in Ghana, in 2017 alone.
The Duke of Edinburgh`s International Award Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales (1072453). The Foundation’s headquarters are in London and it has regional offices in the Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific and EMAS (Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States).
Further background information is available within the Foundation’s media pack available via their website