THE EXPEDITIONER
Apr 2016
Sheraton Mall Sargeant’s Village Christ Church T (246) 436-8754 F (246) 436-1630 deiabarbados@gmail.com www.theawardbarbados.com www.facebook.com/deabarbadosaward
May Sun 8–Fri 13—Self-assessment & quality assurance review Sun 29— Deadline for submission of National Qualifying documents.
June Sat 25– Fundraising car wash Sheraton Mall July Fri 1-Wed 6—National Qualifying Expedition & CASC 2016 prelim hike
Fri 22—Barbados contingent departs to CASC 2016 Sat 23—CASC Annual General Meeting
The annual fundraising golf tournament was held in March at Royal Westmoreland. Check pages 2 and 3 for highlights and the full results.
Mon 25-Wed 27— Americas Regional Conference
THE EXPEDITIONER
Page 2
Thornton Off to Windsor Play in the annual Barbados leg of The Duke of Edinburgh Cup World Amateur Golf Series was a day of friendly competition.
This
year, the tournament was held on the course at Royal Westmoreland. Charlie Thornton, a member on the Sandstorm Gold/ Profiles Caribbean team, had the biggest smile of all as he was the day’s overall winner. Coming in second to him was Tom O’Sullivan. Whilst the men were the big winners, the ladies didn’t let themselves be left out of the special prizes. Sally Schofield was the one with the longest drive and Jill McCutcheon was closest to the pin. There was more to the day than golf.
During
the
evening’s
presentation the players got to hear from two young gold award holders. Jeremy Devonish and Georgina Trew shared
highlights
experiences
going
of
their
through
the
different levels of the Award. For the
players,
this
was
a
great
opportunity to hear just how the money donated from the tournament impacts on the lives of the young award participants.
Georgina, now
fills the role of award leader at the University
of
the
West
Indies
Cavehill Campus. She has been able to
encourage
some
of
her
participants to take up sailing which is one of her own loves. (For more of what Georgina and Jeremy had to say see Page 7) Chairman of the National Award
Council Stephen Smith used the Carmichael, Chairman of Trustees, opportunity to thank the players for that the programme was enjoying their support and issued a call for increased numbers Smith mentioned assistance
in
finding
a
bigger the desire to offer participants
location for the Award to call home. training
in
Following comments by Sir Trevor aquaculture
new and
skills
such
green
as
house
THE EXPEDITIONER
Page 3
farming. Also
in
attendance
at
the
tournament was Tim Smith, Head of Operations
in
the
international
office of the Award. encouraged
all
the
He too
players
for
supporting the Award and spoke to the value of financial assistance to ensure the continuity of the Award. Addressing the wider impact of the Award, he noted that the soft skills which
are
developed
through
participating in the award are being sought
after
community.
in
the
business
In particular he noted
the importance of self-discipline, leadership and team work. The monies raised through the competition will be used to maintain the annual operations of the Award in Barbados.
Name
Team
1
Charlie Thornton
Sandstorm Gold/ Profiles Caribbean
2
Tom O’Sullivan
London Life/Cidel
3
Steve Buckmaster
Sir Martyn Arbib
Ladies Closest to Pin
Jill McCutchon
Ladies Longest drive Sally Schofield Men’s Closest to Pin
Charles Leacock
Men’s Longest Drive
Shane Johnson
Captions—Page
2— Charlie
Thornton accepting his prize from Sir Trevor Carmichael.; Paul Dean at play on the course. Page 3 (Top)— Second placed was Tom O’Sullivan receives his prize from Tim Smith; Steve
Buckmaster
Organiser conversation
James with
was
third.;
Gardiner one
of
in the
players.; (Bottom) Dwayne Smith at the registration before the start of play; Players also took part in a silent auction with a variety of prizes.
THE EXPEDITIONER
Page 4
Service highlights Diversity Commonwealth Day 2016 saw The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award come together with the Royal Commonwealth
Society
Barbados
Branch to mark the occasion. HE Sir Elliott
Belgrave
delivered
the
official commonwealth day message which was centred on inclusion. The multi-faith James
Street
comprised various
service
held
at
Methodist
representatives
faiths
affirmations.
who
each
the
Church from shared
In each there was a
make the Award available to all diversity that exist in the world and young people aged 14-24 in Barbados. in each person. He also noted that
with technology today bringing the message of hope for the island. In Children and youth are key to the world together there is a need for attendance at the service were future of the Commonwealth and the each nation to diversify. r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m b o t h wider society. There was a lot of organisations and members of the involvement by young people in the CAPTIONS—(Above) Christopher local diplomatic corps. Operations Manager of the Award Carla Alleyne made an appeal for greater and continued support of both
the
Royal
Commonwealth
service. Readings and prayers were Mapp and Joshua Brathwaite played
delivered by Award participants and the a prelude to the start of the musical Coleridge
performances and
School choir.
Parry
by
the service; Akeila Philips of the UWI
Secondary group read a ...for the youth; H.E Sir
Elliott Belgrave along with members
of the diplomatic corps were in Society and Award programme. She Delivering the meditation Rev. Dr. spoke of the attendance. also mentioned increased efforts to Michael Clarke
THE EXPEDITIONER
Page 5
Safety key in Overseas Camp Readiness With less than three months left to prepare for the annual summer expedition in Trinidad and Tobago, the training for the Barbados contingent has been ongoing. In the last months, safety was the focus of the group’s training programme. In January, St. John Ambulance Association facilitated first aid training for the group through the very experienced Robert Springer.
A second
first aid training session will be held in July to ensure that all the participants are clear on their procedures in the event of an emergency. Water safety training was also made available in February with the Barbados Coast Guard. This session covered emergency procedures on the water. The group was exposed to the use of flairs and how to rescue others on the water. The training programme will climax in July with a 50 mile preparatory hike. Other aspects of the training programme will include plans for the talent night showcase.
CAPTIONS— (Left) Participants making sales at the fundraising flea Market, (Top) First Aid and Water safety training
Page 6
THE EXPEDITIONER
ORB Checkin: - How to log your progress After you have logged into your account you will be at your homepage, there you will have to set up the activities for each of your sections. For the bronze level you will have to select your Major section; this is the one from Skills, Service or Physical Recreation that you will be doing for six months. Once selected click save to move on to the next page
Click on ‘Set up Activity’ button next to the section name. Choose your activity type ‘Activity Type’ dropdown menu; E.g: Water sports if you are doing swimming or sailing. If your activity is not on the list, you can choose ‘Other’ and write your activity name in the free text field below. Complete your goal and fill in the other details and click ‘Save’. You can now start to enter logs of your progress. Click ‘Log’ button beside the activity on your homepage. Enter the date of the activity and the length of time for the activity Write a description of the activity. Click ‘Save log’ Do this regularly until you have completed the required number of weeks and you see that you are 100% complete.
Page 7
THE EXPEDITIONER
How the Award Opens Eyes and Doors Over the last 60 years The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award has been a catalyst for change in millions of lives. Georgina Trew is bright and energetic and Jeremy Devonish is well on his way to making a mark on our society, here are their stories.
Georgie’s leadership Journey
My classmates and I spent a exciting weekend paddling, portaging and camping on a lake in Northern Ontario, Canada, as well as learning the importance of teamwork. Later that year after several other hiking expeditions, winter camping trips, photography workshops, and dance classes I had achieved my bronze award. From this I transitioned straight into the gold award.
Graduating from school in Canada, I joined a Norwiegen tall ship, the SS Sorlandet, and sailed throughout the Atlantic for 9 months. Here, I honed my sailing skills, while in between, exploring On discovering the Duke of Edinburgh’s ports in many different countries. I award when I was in Canada, I couldn’t learned the difference between a believe how greatly I desired to get ‘tourist’ and a ‘traveller’ – the latter involved and eventually earn the top being one who actually immerses honour of the award – the Gold pin! It themselves in the culture of the country seemed to encompass all those activities they are visiting rather than just looking. I loved . It all started with a canoe trip. This can be attributed, I believe, to the
A better Jeremy thanks to Award
understanding and thirst for knowledge that duke encourages. On moving back to Barbados, I was asked to start up a Duke program at the University of the West Indies. We now have around 12 students enrolled in the program. They’ve hiked all over the island, feeling a sense of accomplishment of all that they’ve achieved. So, from canoe trips on Canadian lakes to a school in southern France, and the high seas of the Atlantic to the exotic forests of Madagascar, to where I am now, Gold Award holder and leader of the Duke group at the university here in Barbados. What a journey it has been and I hope to continue to enjoy it for a long time to come!
Queen’s College group on their Gold preliminary hike. This forced us out of Before I entered the Award I was shy, comfort zone, as we had reservations lacked self-esteem and was not about meeting, interacting and hiking confident in any of my decisions. I first with people we did not know. However we joined the award in my fifth year at soon bonded and enjoyed the hike Harrison College I found the community immensely as we overcame the physical service aspect of the award especially and mental challenges of the interesting, as it enlightened me to the adventurous journey. These experiences benefits of volunteering as well as to the were the foundation of the “Struggle issues plaguing our society with one of Unit” (as we called ourselves). These the most memorable community services experiences taught us to appreciate being a clean-up project in Welchman in music, art and dance. We also aim to people from different backgrounds, Hall Gully Being involved in those inspire and challenge the youth of cultures and experiences as they could activities allowed me to realise how much Barbados to be the change that they people around me appreciated what I had want to see in society, proving to society potentially enrich our lives. to offer to society and this slowly grew that there is limitless talent in the youth Given everything I have experienced and of this country whilst creating a fresh my self-esteem. continue to experience thanks to the vibrant music and arts industry. award, I can confidently say that I have I went onto become the treasurer of the become an individual that will facilitate Cave Hill Music Society. Along with my When I started my Gold Award, two best friends, Chad Larrier and Ajani however, I was faced with a predicament positive change in my society, and will Daniel in addition to some other friends as the original group had shrunk from 14 take challenges head on as I actively from university, I formed a company individuals to only three over the years. seek to make a difference in the lives of those around me. aimed at providing young people with To complete our Gold award, we had to creative outlets to express their talents accompany some members of the
A Trini Easter for Dario By Dario Harewood ‘Easter Beaster’ was an experience for me. When I first decided to do the hike, some people wondered why I wanted to hike in Trinidad. It was after hearing about Easter Beaster from some of my Trinidadian friends from CASC 2013 that I wanted to do it. It wasn’t anything like hiking in Barbados. From the humidity in the mountains to the lack of standpipes; they took a little getting accustomed to. The hike was filled with beach walks, trails and sleeping on the beach. My group was named ‘The Slim Chadees’. We started the hike as complete strangers but by the end of the hike we were great friends and this is one of the best opportunities afforded to members of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. I am well known for being very jubilant on hikes and this hike, even though in a different country, was no exception. My songs also motivated others to push on, right up the hills and onward. For all the qualifiers on this hike, we were all looking forward to completing the journey and completing our awards. All in all, I went, I saw and I conquered Easter Beaster 2016 (#ElTucuche #bajan2trinidad) and I am looking forward to CASC 2016 in the twin island republic.
Continued Award Growth in 2015
25
In 2015, the Award in Barbados continued to grow with both new participants and new groups. The year’s achievements included the start of a bronze group at the Silver Sands Church of God by Gold Award holder Mrs. Kimita Bronton. There were 123 (49 male and 74 female) new young Barbadians who started the Bronze Award.
Awards Gained in 2015 20 15 10
21
19
5
New Bronze Entrants in 2015
6 0 Bronze
5 5 11 Independent Schools
25
Government Schools
University Uniformed Group
2
Church Group
75
Open Group
Silver
Gold