Among the many extracurricular opportunities offered by St. Paul’s School, the Duke of Edinburgh International Award programme stands out. Founded by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, this global programme has become synonymous with resilience, skill-building, and community engagement.
The Award is structured into three progressive levels: the Bronze Award, the Silver and the Gold. In total, we have twelve scholars enrolled in the programme in different levels.
This term, four of our recently joined scholars embraced the Bronze Award, the initial step where participants delve into the programme, engaging activities to develop their skills.
The journey includes an expedition, and our pupils set forth to the Mantiqueira mountain range – both literally and metaphorical breathtaking . They were split in groups, each with a different challenge: one to complete the traverse between S. Francisco Xavier and Monte Verde and the other to walk the Ruy Braga trail in the outstanding Itatiaia National Park.
Mr Felipe Dias, a Music teacher at St. Paul’s, accompanied our scholars during the most recent Bronze Award expedition. He shares that “The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a transformative journey for our pupils, emphasising not only their enthusiasm for personal growth but also the significant inclusion of St. Paul’s Foundation. As we celebrate the accomplishments of all pupils that joined the programme, the involvement of scholars stands out as a testament to the diversity and inclusivity that defines our educational approach, fostering a collective spirit of achievement and success.”
One of our scholars, Letícia, has completed the Bronze Award and progressed to the Silver Qualifying. Reflecting on her experience in the expeditions, she shares that, despite never camping before, she loved it. “Being in contact with nature, observing animals and beautiful landscapes, even roasting marshmallows by the fire… It was so nice!”
She acknowledges the challenge, both physically and mentally, but emphasises it taught her a lot about perseverance. “When I look back, I can see that I was in pain, it was hard, it was hot, but slowly, you can make it and the ‘up’s’ make the ‘down’s’ worthwhile.”
You can see more photos of the expeditions here: