The President’s Award has been running in South Africa since 1983 and at Somerset College since 2010.
Inspired by the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme established in 1956, the programme consists of three levels: bronze, silver and gold.
Participants have to complete at various levels in sport, acquire a skill, perform a community service and complete an outdoor journey.
The purpose of the award is to provide college students with a structure that will help them grow personally and collectively. Many of the activities are already part of the school programme, however, and participants are expected to arrange their own community service and give regular feedback on it.
Many students do not complete the gold level through not keeping abreast of the strict requirements. Grade 11 and 12 learners, it is felt, are ideally placed to meet the criteria for earning them the award.
