Service Organizations
GGYA Bahamas presents Duke of Edinborough Gold awards
By Felicity Ingraham
Mar 27, 2014 - 11:18:25 PM

Left: Governor General, Sir Arthur Foulkes; Gold Award recipients and GGYA volunteers, along with Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson (left in award presentation photos) Photos by Felicity Ingraham

The Governor General's Youth Award (GGYA) welcomed international guests for its annual general meeting this past weekend, an event which culminated in the presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh International Gold awards for the programme. 

GGYA volunteers from all over the archipelago from Abaco to Inagua were present for a weekend of workshops and training before the annual general meeting. 

Chairman of the GGYA National Council Mr. Jack Thomspon gave the GGYA members the charge to remain current and also in tune to the needs of young people to help them foster the kind of success they can carry with them through life.

Denise Mortimer, National Executive Director, got high marks from Regional Director of Africa for the Duke of Edunburgh's Award Programme, Mr. Edwin Kimani, as well as from the Americas Regional Director David Clarke LVO.  They expressed their commitment to working with the Bahamas region as it continues to grow and pass out more stellar awardees. Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson, and Director of Youth, K. Darron Turnquest were on hand to witness the young people receive their gold awards.

Training sessions were held at the Ministry of Youth, Thompson Boulevard.  The training sessions were Mrs. Jacquetta Maycock and Chief Petty Officer Lawson Clarke. 

The weekend wrapped up with the AGM at Government House, under the patronage of the Governor General, Sir Arthur Foulkes.  Mr. Felix Stubbs brought remarks on behalf of the Board of Trustees, while special reports came in from: Elaine Gomez, Grand Bahama; Simone Murphy, Inagua All Age School; Edwin Johnson, COB Gold Participant, CC Sweeting High School; David Mindroff, Lyford Cay International School; and DeShawn McGregor, Gold Award Holder. 

The government recently renewed its partnership with the Governor General's Youth Award through the G.O.L.D. Initiative, providing the financial support necessary to make the programme more national in scope. 

To get the gold award, if the GGYA members were silver recipients, they had to do 12 months service, skill, and physical recreation and carry out expeditions and explorations for four days and three nights, and complete a five-day residential project.

GGYA Executive Director Denise Mortimer is greeted by Olympian Pauline Davis during the weekend of activities Photo: Felicity Ingraham

Gold Award Recipient Photo: Felicity Ingraham

Photo: Felicity Ingraham

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