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News : International Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Bahamians Continue Leadership Stronghold in Duke of Edinburgh Programme
By Felicity Ingraham
Nov 21, 2014 - 2:23:43 PM

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Javier Forbes seen here with HRH The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, who chairs the IGE event.

A Bahamian was chosen to lead the Americas region for the fourth time in the history of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Programme. The Americas Region comprises of North and South America, the Caribbean , United States and Canada, making it an honor that the Bahamas continues to prove its youth leadership ability on an international scale.

Arvis Mortimer returned to The Bahamas this month from the International Gold Event (IGE) in Seoul, Korea as the newly-elected "new emerging representative" for the Americas Region. Javier Forbes also represented the Bahamas GGYA at the IGE event, which put participants through two weeks of leadership training and practical skills.

The IGE's 2014 theme: "Leadership for a Transformed Award" brought together Gold Award participants from over 140 countries and territories to examine ways to help the Award Programme to grow and develop in their respective countries.

"I am grateful for the opportunity," says Mortimer. "Leadership is not standing on a podium; it is working with and for people. I am completely convinced that this is one of the most premier programs for young people as you develop love of country, love of fellow man, and it gives you persistence, grit and drive. I want to get many more young people, especially from less advantaged background, the opportunity to impact their lives through the Award Programme"

Forbes and Mortimer are both Gold Award Holders (GAH), as well as volunteers for the Programme, showing commitment even after having achieved the Award highest level.

Forbes joined the program in 1995 after facing school suspension for behavior. Four years later, he had obtained his leadership training and has been impacting the lives of younger participants since that time.

Mortimer started at the age of 14, attended an Award leadership conference in Jamaica in 2009, and has been volunteering in GGYA ever since.

Their visit to Korea encompassed meeting people from all over the world where the Award Programme is licensed, and developing a new action plan for the 2014 to 2017 period. Mortimer will represent the Americas for the entire time.

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Bahamians in Korea

HRH The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, chairs the IGE event, and Forbes had the distinct pleasure of sitting next to The Prince during lunch, calling him pretty "down-to-Earth" and "a pleasure to interact with". The Prince Edward is also a Gold recipient in the prestigious Programme, which recognizes young adults for completing a series of rigorous self-improvement exercises and teaches survival, social and leadership skills.

"It was an amazing trip!", said Forbes. "I got to meet people from all around the world where the Award is established. America, Africa, China, Europe, America, Korea - just about the entire world. We all came together and did team-building events."

The GAH, formed groups of 7 to 8 people from all around the world and in the final assessment, they were required to do a study on some of Korea's social issues, such as prison re offenders, health, and issues between North and South Korea after going into the field to do assessments and produce reports.

"From this experience, I have gained a wealth of knowledge internationally that helps me to connect with people from other parts of the world," said Forbes.

He specifically wants to encourage more young men to join GGYA as the Bahamas seeks more avenues for positive energy for young people in the face of climbing crime statistics. As a teenager, Forbes said GGYA was his second chance; he was facing suspension and had to join a youth program.

"GGYA molded me into the young man I am today," he said. "This program required that I learn a skill; I did auto-body repair. After completing the program I ended up going to BTVI and getting my certificate.”

The RBDF marines, who accompany participants on their adventurous journeys for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, also make a heavy impact on the participants, Forbes attests, noting that he is a proud marine today because of their guidance.

Mortimer says she is up to the task of not only representing the Americas region, but utilizing the knowledge of her regional participants to help expand the program here.

"I would encourage young people in this country to join GGYA because the way it is structured, you have to do a service, you have to do a skill and you have to do a Gold only residential project, and within all that you have to choose your own path in each one," she said.

"So by choosing your own path it helps to structure your life and help you to find the way. You find a good path to travel."

The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture and GGYA have a partnership titled the G.O.L.D Initiative - an acronym based on the Ministry's mandate to instill greatness, provide opportunities, develop leadership and support development among the nation's youths. The partnership paved the way for GGYA to register more youths and disburse more Awards than ever before in its 26-year history.

To learn more or become a part of GGYA Bahamas, visit:
www.bahamasggya.org.

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Javier seen seated next to HRH The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward during lunch.



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