THIRTY FOUR young people from all over Jamaica were honoured at Kings House last Tuesday for successfully completing a programme of voluntary activities designed to develop their skills, experiences and self-belief.

The youths chatted with the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, as they received from him the prestigious Gold Award from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

Later, they posed for pictures and spoke with the smiling prince on the lawns of Kings House, as they were entertained by an enthusiastic marching band.

The Earl said it was particularly important that the achievements of young people who had worked so hard in the programme be recognised.

“Every now and then it’s nice to receive a pat on the back and to be told ‘well done’… We spend a lot of time focusing on the things that go wrong, but every now and then we have to focus on people who having a positive impact on the community,” said the earl, who is the youngest child of reigning British monarch Queen Elizabeth II.

Governor general Professor Kenneth Hall, in his welcome, said the awards promoted several of the core values on which societies are built, including volunteerism.

Chair of the National Executive Council of the awards authority Lilyclaire Bellamy said more than 800 people had registered to participate in the programme, and that this number was expected to grow this year.

She said the Government of Jamaica through the Ministry of Education and Youth had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to get the programme into all secondary schools on the island.

The award programme, which started in 1956 by a team led by the Duke of Edinburgh, husband and consort of the Queen.

The award presents to young people a balanced, non-competitive programme of voluntary activities, which encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to the community.

To obtain an award, participants must demonstrate achievement at the appropriate level in various activities in four sections – volunteering service, acquiring skills, physical recreation, or adventurous journey.

The event at Kings House was broadcast live on the Internet.