The President’s Award forms part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and operates in over 140 countries around the world.  The aim of this youth programme is to empower young people between the ages of 14 and 25. The participants must show regular participation and commitment in the 4 sections of the award: Community Service, Adventurous Journey, Skills Development and Physical Recreation.

Jessica Lavies (Grade 10) and Tori-Jayne Summerfield (Grade 12) both completed the Bronze level of the Award – 24 hours of community service, 3 months of a physical recreation, 3 months of skills, and an Adventurous Journey of 2 days and 1 night.

Photo: (from left to right) Jessica Lavies, Tori-Jayne Summerfield and Mr D Schenck.

Tori-Jayne says she chose AP Maths as her skill and athletics training as her physical recreation.  For community service she helped out at her church’s Sunday school, was involved in keeping score for our cricket team and also served as a first aider.  She completed her adventurous journey in Betty’s Bay and says that the President’s Award has been a great experience that she thoroughly enjoyed.

Parel Vallei has been a part of this youth empowerment programme since 2013 and since then, this programme, under the guidance of Mrs Ellis, has afforded many Parel Valleiers the opportunity to serve their community while learning new skills and challenging themselves.