The Israel Youth Award is a self-development program for 14- to 25-year-olds. Over 7 million young people worldwide have taken up the Award challenge. A member of the International Award Association, the Israel Youth Award is one of 62 National Award Authorities delivering the International Award, which started life in the UK in 1956 as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
History of The International Award Programme
The Israel Youth Award is an exciting self-development Programme for all 14- to 25-year-olds. Over 7 million young people worldwide have taken up the Award challenge. A member of the International Award Association, the Israel Youth Award is one of 62 National Award Authorities delivering the International Award, which started life in the UK in 1956 as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The Award Programme grew out of the efforts of three men, who were responding to a common anxiety about how best to engage young people. After the war there was a growing concern about the development of boys, due to the gap between leaving school at 15 and entering National Service at 18.
Against this backdrop The Duke of Edinburgh's Award was set up in 1956, by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Kurt Hahn, a German educationalist; and John Lord Hunt, leader of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest.
The Award Programme was introduced in Israel in 1986 by Yehuda Arel, who perceived it to be a practical challenge to Israeli youth. The Programme is operated in Israel as a not-for-profit organisation chaired by Nathan Wolloch, Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, in a joint effort with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Society Administration. In practice, the Award Programme is delivered to young people by Award leaders from different cities and settlements, teachers, and students and leaders who have themselves completed the Programme. The uniqueness of the Programme lies in its multiculturalism and its openness to young people from all sectors of society – religious or socio-economic. It encompasses Jews, Arabs, Druze, Christians and Bedouin, new immigrants and "Sabras" (native Israelis) alike, young people with disabilities, youth at risk, and youth with special needs.
The basic philosophy
The Award Programme is based on the educational philosophy of Dr. Kurt Hahn. Based on the philosophy of Hahn, founder and headmaster of Gordonstoun School in Scotland, the Programme was designed around four sections: Rescue & Public Service Training, the Expedition, Pursuits & Projects, and Fitness.
Hahn’s ideas were considered progressive at the time, but today they remain as relevant as ever to young people living in a complex modern society. His theories were based on his belief in the British school system, his research on the teaching methods of the Greek philosopher Plato, and later, on his personal experience as a school principal.
Specifically, his reading of Plato taught Hahn that education should bring about the balanced development of all human elements, in terms of body, mind, and soul. Thus, his vision was to provide a programme for personal development that would complete and broaden education. This end is achieved through the four Sections of the Programme: Service, Adventurous Journey, Physical Recreation and Skills.
Hahn believed that the Award Programme would offer its participants a chance to realize their personality and their abilities - something that he considered to be a necessary step in the self-development of youth. He saw the Award Programme as a tool through which young people are encouraged to explore new areas and to discover new talents within and by themselves.
A Programme for everyone
The founder of the Programme, the Duke of Edinburgh, believed that every young person, anywhere around the world, at the right age, has the potential to participate in the Award and to complete the Levels successfully. A mental or physical ability or social circumstances should not be an obstacle. That is why the Programme is equally open to all. The criteria of Award receipt, after successful completion of one of the Levels, are individual effort and self-improvement.
Progress is measured only against one's personal capabilities and objectives; meaning, this is a non-competitive program of individual challenge.