The International Award for Young People, also known, as the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’s award’ is a youth empowerment programme, which brings about personal development, persistence and independence in an individual.
In India, an annual Gold Award ceremony takes place where about 80 to 100 Awardees receive their Gold Awards. This year, it took place at the India International Centre in New Delhi on the 12th of July 2013. On a rainy day and with the event located near one of Delhi’s most elegant areas it made for a beautiful journey. The event took place inside an auditorium on the first floor of the Kamla Devi building; there was a registration desk outside the auditorium and a vast array of food for lunchtime, beside it. The volunteers would register every Gold Awardee as soon as they made it inside the auditorium and guide every parent onto their seat. Unlike most award ceremonies and presentations, this event started right on time. It begun with an introduction by a volunteer, a short, but efficacious speech by National Director, Mr. Kapil Bhalla and a band performance by the students of G.D Goenka World School, the band comprised of Sid, Surya, Aditya and Zubair. They performed “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars, which was enjoyed and appreciated by almost everyone in the room. The event then rolled over to an influential speech by the chief guest, Mr. Hari Dang, a Padma Shri. He spoke confidently, effortlessly and with great conviction, leaving the audience compelled and thinking. After his address, every Gold Awardee was called up on stage to receive their Gold Award and details about every Awardee’s activities were displayed on a screen as they came up. ANKUSH AGARWAL and SURYA PAHAL from G D Goenka World School were awarded their Gold badges and certificates. The school Award Coordinator, Mrs. Vijayashree Pahal also received the Meritorious Certificate for her service to IAYP, India along with 10 other Award Leaders. Soon after, there was a short video shown on the screen that exhibited the importance, structure and effect of IAYP on young people all around the world.
