More than 270 young people were celebrated at the Gaiety Theatre on Tuesday as the Isle of Man marked the 70th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
Bronze and Silver certificates were presented by Education Minister Daphne Caine MHK and His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, recognising the commitment shown by participants across the island.
The event also reflected on the scheme’s history, with Frank Cowin who introduced the DofE locally in 1958, sharing memories of its early days and its growth through generations.
Programme’s Impact
Minister Caine praised the programme’s impact, saying the skills developed through the DofE “are ones they will carry with them throughout their lives.”
She said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been changing young lives in the Isle of Man for nearly 70 years, and it continues to go from strength to strength.
“The skills these young people develop – resilience, teamwork, self-discipline – are ones they will carry with them throughout their lives. I am enormously proud of every one of them.”
The anniversary also saw the launch of a new Sea to Summit Challenge, offering eight routes from coastline to hilltops, complete with hidden geocaches for participants to discover.
