Youth Ambassadors 2024/25 - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (2024)

Her journey began with the Bronze Award, and although many stopped after the Bronze expedition, Sophia stuck with it. She particularly appreciates the time spent in nature, the hiking and the teamwork she experienced on the expeditions. As a Youth Ambassador, she wants to raise awareness of the Award and show others how enriching and motivating the programme can be.

‘The biggest lesson I've learnt from the Award is that physical exertion and challenges make you feel stronger and more confident about yourself. It's not just the physical exercise, but also the mental strength you develop.’

As a student with a particular interest in environmental protection, he brings his passion to various projects: he organises voluntary activities for an environmental initiative and is involved in the student community. Tobias particularly appreciates the personal challenges and growth he has experienced through the expeditions, as well as the opportunity to broaden his perspectives and strengthen his network. As a Youth Ambassador, he wants to help raise awareness of the programme and encourage other young people to get involved too.

‘The Duke of Edinburgh Award is more than just a programme - it's a journey of self-discovery and personal development. The experiences I've had so far have shown me how important it is to stay committed and to keep taking on new challenges.’

Quentin is particularly interested in sport and music: he regularly plays tennis, practises the piano and volunteers as a football coach for the little ones. The Award expeditions were a particular highlight for Quentin. He appreciated the opportunity to experience nature and overcome challenges together with his friends. The experiences he had helped him to become more relaxed and discover new strengths within himself. As a Youth Ambassador, he wants to pass on his enthusiasm for the award: Because he firmly believes that the skills and experiences gained through the Award offer valuable life lessons.

‘Through the Award, I have learnt how important it is to work together as a group and support each other. The expeditions we did together not only challenged us physically but also mentally and made us stronger as a team.’

Amani is passionate about the Duke Award programme because she is always open to new challenges and the idea of giving and receiving is particularly important to her. She tutors, jogs regularly and has deepened her empathy and helpfulness through various activities. As a Youth Ambassador, Amani strives to spread the word about the Duke Award to more schools, especially public schools, to give all students the chance to develop.

‘The principle of give and take is very important to me. I think the Duke Award is a great way to give something back to society and to grow yourself.’

He found the expeditions particularly valuable, as they not only pushed him to his physical limits, but also strengthened his teamwork and leadership skills. During his award, he discovered that he enjoyed working with people and appreciated the challenges and experiences that helped him progress. As a Youth Ambassador, Julius wants to use his experiences to raise awareness of the programme and offer similar opportunities to other young people.

‘The best thing I learnt from the award was that it's not just about achieving goals, but also about helping others and working together to achieve something.’

Her activities are varied and show her adaptability and commitment: she started by working out at the gym and practising horse riding, helping out in her school's library and changing her language course from Italian to Spanish to further develop her language skills. Sophie finds the experiences she has had during the expeditions particularly valuable, especially the challenges of cooking and camping together. As a Youth Ambassador, she would like to spread the word about the programme to other schools and get more young people interested in the award.

‘I found it particularly exciting to be without a mobile phone during the expeditions and to have to rely on my team mates and myself instead. It helped me to improve basic skills such as organisation and teamwork.’

The award has fascinated her from the very beginning and she sees it as a great opportunity for personal development. For her Award, Tammy is working on her fitness, improving her Vietnamese language skills and volunteering as a tutor and babysitter. She is particularly looking forward to her first expedition and is excited about the experiences she will gain there. As a Youth Ambassador, Tammy wants to motivate young people to push their own boundaries and take on new challenges.

‘I think it's important that young people get to know the Duke of Edinburgh Award because it gives them the chance to develop themselves and gain new experiences that they might not otherwise have.’

His challenges have included swimming, involvement in the Global Action Network and debating, although English is not his first language. Arturs particularly values the experiences and lessons he has learnt during his expeditions and the valuable insights he has gained through his involvement in the Global Action Network. As a Youth Ambassador, he wants to highlight the importance of the Duke Award in Germany and encourage young people to join this enriching programme.

‘As Youth Ambassador, I especially want to emphasise the importance of engagement and volunteering. It is fulfilling to see how hard work pays off and how small acts can make a difference in the lives of others.’

In her spare time, Mette plays tennis and is a keen cellist. The International Award has given her the opportunity to develop new interests and she has learnt the basics of her fifth foreign language, sign language, as part of this.

In the future, Mette aspires to share her enthusiasm for the success of the Duke Award with other young people. Mette also plans to volunteer and travel after she finishes school. She wants to use these experiences to broaden her global perspective and develop intercultural skills. Mette plans to start a degree programme where she can gain new perspectives and continue to pursue her future career path.

His Award activities include running, volunteering in the school library and MUN Debating, a simulation of the United Nations at student level. Felix was particularly impressed by his first MUN conference at the school, which enabled him to make new encounters and experiences. As a Youth Ambassador, Felix's main aim is to spread awareness of the Duke Award and help inspire more young people to take part in this valuable programme.

‘The Award has helped me to improve my ability to reflect and to get to know myself better. I think it's important that more young people get the chance to discover and develop their strengths through programmes like this.’

Her passion for the award is reflected in her varied commitments: as well as actively participating in tennis training sessions, she volunteers in an environmental project and is a member of her school's debating society. ZiQing particularly appreciates the challenges and adventures of the expeditions, which allow her to expand her teamwork skills and discover new perspectives. As a Youth Ambassador, she wants to help raise awareness of the Duke Award in her region.

‘The journey that the Duke of Edinburgh Award offers is more than just a challenge - it's an opportunity to grow beyond yourself and discover new skills. I look forward to sharing this journey with others and encouraging them to pursue their own goals.’

Her journey began during her year abroad in England, when she became aware of the programme through a video. She was particularly motivated by the opportunity to take on new challenges every week and help others. Alongside her dedicated volunteering and yoga activities, she has discovered her independence and tenacity. She sees it as her mission to raise awareness of the programme and support independent participants.

‘The award has shown me how valuable it is to continuously develop and take on challenges. I want to inspire others to take this opportunity and pursue their own goals.’

With an impressive international life story spanning from Japan to Thailand to Germany, Alina has used the Award as an opportunity to make new friends and discover her passion for hiking. The Award not only allowed her to test her physical and personal limits, but also to develop new skills such as map reading. Her enthusiasm for the programme and determination to further her education is evident in her active participation in various projects and her desire to help other schools access the benefits of the Duke Award. Alina plans to use her newfound experience and skills to pursue a career in the medical field while making a positive impact on those around her.

‘The Award has given me the opportunity to make new friends as well as discover my passion for hiking and the outdoors. These experiences have allowed me to grow personally and in my planning skills.’

She has recently completed her first expedition and is excited about the new experiences she has gained. Sofia is using the Award to explore her strengths and develop her skills in a variety of areas. She is particularly intrigued by the opportunity to develop her language skills in Turkish, as she has a Turkish friend and is interested in cultural diversity. Her commitment to helping refugees and her passion for sustainable architecture reflect her desire to bring about positive change in her community and beyond.

‘My goal as a Youth Ambassador is to make an impact on the world and share the experiences I have had with others, especially to promote understanding and support for people from migrant backgrounds.’

Annabelle regularly plays golf, designs a website and is involved in her school's First Aid Club. She particularly values the experiences she has had during the expeditions and the opportunity to meet new people and develop her skills. As a Youth Ambassador, her main aim is to raise awareness of the Duke Award in Germany and inspire more young people to take part in this valuable programme.

‘The Award has taught me how important it is to work in a team and find solutions together. I really enjoy trying out new things and constantly developing myself further.’

The opportunity to develop new skills and socialise with different people particularly excites her. For her Gold Award, Sophia is planning to prepare for a triathlon. She also wants to learn Spanish by taking a language course and possibly doing a project in Spain. Sophia has gained valuable experience through the Silver Award, particularly on a challenging expedition in Scotland and on the border with the Czech Republic. These experiences have strengthened her communication skills and her ability to motivate groups. As a Youth Ambassador, she would like to remain active and learn more about the organisation of the programme.

‘I wanted to become a Youth Ambassador to stay in touch with the Duke Award and learn more about the organisation. It's exciting to understand the whole structure behind the Award and to see how the programme can be developed further.’