HRH Countess of Wessex visits Doha College
Princess Sophie praised the efforts of students and teachers taking part in the International Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Photo Courtesy of Doha College
Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie, Countess of Wessex has praised the efforts of students and teachers at Doha College taking part in the International Duke of Edinburgh Awards during a visit to the school’s Al Waab campus yesterday.
HRH Countess of Wessex, who is in Doha as part of a four-day trip to the country with blindness prevention charity Orbis UK, is the global ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.
Doha College Principal Dr Steffen Sommer said the students were thrilled with the visit, the first since her tour in 2001 with His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.
Dr Sommer said:
It was a great privilege to host Her Royal Highness at Doha College and I am confident her visit will be remembered by the students all their lives.
It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the achievements of our enthusiastic students and dedicated staff, all of whom work tirelessly to reach their goals under this worthwhile programme.
Doha College was the first school in Qatar to introduce the Duke of Edinburgh International Award and we have had more than 2500 students complete the programme to date.
We are extremely proud of our students’ achievements and honoured to have Her Royal Highness recognise their efforts.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award works with over 300,000 young people every year, helping them to develop skills for life and work.
It was introduced by Doha College in Qatar in 1998 and has 155 students participating at a Gold, Silver or Bronze level this year.
HRH The Countess of Wessex spent almost an hour talking to students and staff and viewing display boards and photographs of the student adventures.
HRH The Countess of Wessex was accompanied by Jacqueline Lawson-Smith Deputy British Ambassador to Qatar, who said:
It is a great privilege to have Her Royal Highness here in Qatar as part of her charity work with Orbis UK and I am delighted that the students and staff at Doha College have had the opportunity to meet her. I know that some of the Doha College students who are participating in the Silver and Gold Levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award have spent time volunteering to help communities in less fortunate countries around the world. This is highly commendable and certainly worthy of the recognition by Her Royal Highness, who is committed to promoting a culture of voluntary work among young people around the globe.
HRH The Countess of Wessex carries out a full schedule of official and working engagements in the UK and overseas in support of The Queen and The Earl of Wessex. The Earl of Wessex has been committed to the work of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award since he achieved his Gold Award in 1986.
Fast facts about the Duke of Edinburgh International Award:
- the Award is open to 14-24 year-olds
- it is run in more than 140 countries
- more than eight million youth have taken part since its inception
- more than 300,000 young people participate in the programme at any one time
- the Award is designed to encourage personal discovery, self-reliance, commitment, responsibility and service to the community
- to fulfil each Level, a young person must choose an activity within the four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. At the Gold Level there is an additional activity - Residential.
Editor’s Notes
Doha College is one of the oldest British curriculum schools in Qatar providing a world class education for 1914 students, between the ages of 3 and 18, who represent over 72 nationalities.
In Doha College, the Duke of Edinburgh International Award is run by teachers Mr Brian Kerr and Mrs Myra Croker.
The school’s vision is to be one recognized as one of the leading international schools in the world.