Taito Dakunivosa of Naqaranikula Youth Group says being part of the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards has taught him life skill lessons that he will cherish for the rest of his life.
The 20 year old who was one of the 35 youths who was awarded the Bronze level award says he has learnt how to cook, what to do when he is out camping and other survival skills.
Dakunivosa says apart from this, they have done a lot of community work in the village like cleaning up and helping the elderly and needy.
He says this program has now taught him to be independent.
Dakunivosa says by engaging in this program, he now dreams to be part of the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards Gold Medal level after achieving Bronze Medal recognition today.
He calls on young people to be part of this program as it will help them grow into hardworking individuals.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to recognise young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Youth and Sports Parveen Bala says the award being presented today is internationally recognized and it just happens to be the world’s leading youth achievement award available to all 14 to 24 year olds.
Bala says programs such as this is targeted at the empowerment training specifically in developing the young minds of our future leaders.
The Minister says today 55 vibrant young people have joined the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Foundation in inspiring over 8 million young people across the globe.
He says government continues to provide advocacy programs targeted at creating sustainable livelihood for each young person.
Bala says not all learning takes place in the classroom as young people need experiences outside the classroom to become committed, responsible and fulfilled citizens of Fiji.
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