HRH Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, has visited Romania this week for the 14^th global Forum of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Association. Prince Edward highlighted the importance of non-formal education and learning, and celebrated the young people who overcome their limits and discover their potential through the Award programme.

On Thursday 13 October His Royal Highness Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, and Chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation; Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of Romanian Crown and Patron of the Award in Romania; HRH Prince Radu of Romania; HRH The Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg; The Rt. Hon. Lord Boateng, International Trustee and Chairman of the Award’s International Council and representatives of the City Hall from Cluj-Napoca visited a range of organisations which deliver the Award to young Romanians, including Academie fotbal Viitorul Cluj who work with young sports men and women from U6 to 18+ from a multitude of backgrounds across Romania.

The event was also attended by other leaders in youth development and sustainability, more than 150 Award delegates from around the world and also students from seven other European countries. As part of the event, Award participants presented their experiences of the programme, including voluntary service, outdoor activities and examples of the significant impact they are having within their communities.

Prince Edward met with young people at Academie fotbal Viitorul Cluj

John May, Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation says: “Here at the Award, we believe young people are passionate, value-driven and want to make a difference in the world.

As a leading proponent of non-formal education and learning, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award works to help young people be ready for their word, whatever that world might look like. Forum 2022 has focused on how we can better enable them to do so and how the Award can be made available to more of them so that every 14-24 year old has the opportunity to participate.”

On Thursday evening members of the Royal Families joined 600 people from all over the world at a International Gold Ceremony which was hosted by Cluj Napoca’s Babes Bolyai University, at the Auditorium Maximum. Non-formal and formal education were collectively honoured in a phenomenal event, where HRH The Earl of Wessex presented 80 Gold Award holders from seven European countries with their certificates and recognised their achievements and contributions to their communities through their participation in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Additionally, Mr. Daniel David, rector of the Babes Bolyai University gave a special medal of commendation to members of the Royal Families.

Congratulating the Gold Award holders, Prince Edward said: “Congratulations on achieving your Gold Award. I hope that having reached that pinnacle you can feel exceptionally proud of what you have achieved. That you can enjoy the sense of great satisfaction for getting there and that your parents, friends and Award Leaders who have supported you on this journey feel a great sense of pride in you as well.”

Lisa, a Gold Award holder from Romania said: “I can say that the lessons learned throughout my time spent completing the Award are what will spur me to always strive to become the best version of myself. The habit of setting achievable goals and checking on progress will enable me to continue growing in both my personal and professional life. I am so grateful to be part of this community of young people that will never stop wanting to learn, will never stop finding solutions, and most importantly will never stop seeing the silver lining of the rain clouds.”

Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, also mentioned: “We have talked all these past few days about The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and how we are all a family in fact, which is a very important thing to do at this particular time as the world today is very fractionalised, if I may say so, and coming together like this is an example for everyone. And I am very happy that it happens in Cluj.”

About The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Romania

• The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global framework for non-formal education and learning, which challenges young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements and make a difference in their world. Through developing transferable skills, increasing their fitness levels, cultivating a sense of adventure and volunteering in their community, the Award helps young people to grow and excel.
• In Romania, the Award was first introduced in 1991 by Sister Agnes in Roman-Catholic Parish of Motru, being carried on locally until 2011. Since June 2013 The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Romania is patronized by Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown.
• Today, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Romania can be found right across the country, engaging over 10.000 young people and 2.500 adults volunteers focused partners and operators, who are in tune with the interests and challenges facing young people today, including schools, universities, sport clubs, youth organizations, examination boards and youth offender institutions .They are empowered with not just the confidence, but also the desire to create meaningful change, finding their purpose, passion and place in the world.
• For more information about the Award in Romania visit dofe.ro

About The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

• The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global, non-formal education and learning framework which challenges young people to develop new skills, get physically active, learn about teamwork and leadership through Adventurous Journey and volunteer within their community.
• It was founded by HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, in conjunction with German educationalist Kurt Hahn.
• It is known by a range of different names around the world – including The President’s Award in Kenya, DofE in the UK, The International Award for Young People in India and Mednarodno priznanje za mlade (MEPI) in Slovenia.
• There are currently more than a million young people completing their own unique Award programme, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators, including schools, youth organisations, examination boards and youth offenders’ institutions.
• The Award is delivered around the world by schools, colleges, universities, employers, social clubs, uniformed and non-uniformed youth organisations, young offenders’ institutions, religious organisations, sports clubs, and a whole host of other civic organisations.
• From running as an established programme in a blind boys’ academy in India, to the introduction into youth organisations in Israel; the Award’s framework can support and thrive in a multitude of different environments.
• Since its launch over 60 years ago, millions of young people have participated and received Awards, with millions more benefitting from its impact in communities around the world.
• HRH The Earl of Wessex is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.

For more information: The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation: Marianna Davis, Director of Brand and Communications, E: [email protected]

For more information: The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Romania Foundation: Mihaela Maris, Vice-President, E: [email protected]