What is the Award?

The Award is a way to challenge and learn more about yourself – while growing in what you are interested in!

As an Award participant:

  • You develop or acquire a skill, for a minimum of one hour per week
  • You are physically active for a minimum of one hour per week
  • You are a regular volunteer for at least one hour per week
  • You experience an adventurous journey in nature with other participants after you have completed the above 3 sections.

The duration of the sections depends on the level you choose – Bronze, Silver or Gold.

Awards levels

Bronze

  • Minimum age

14 years

  • Service

3 months

  • Physical recreation

3 months

  • Skills

3 months

  • Adventurous journey

2 days/1night

  • Minimal period

6 months

Additional 3 months in one of the three sections Service, Skills or Physical recreation

Silver

  • Minimum age

15 years

  • Service

6 months

  • Physical recreation

6 months

  • Skills

6 months

  • Adventurous journey

3 days/2night

  • Minimal period

6 or 12 months

Participants who haven’t achieved Bronze level choose an additional 6 months in one of the sections – Service, Physical Recreation or Skills.

Gold

  • Minimum age

16 years

  • Service

12 months

  • Physical recreation

12 months

  • Skills

12 months

  • Adventurous journey

4 days/3night

  • Gold residential project

5 days/4night

  • Minimal period

12 or 18 months

Participants who haven’t achieved Silver level choose an additional 6 months in one of the sections – Service, Physical Recreation or Skills.

Sections and example activities

Service

Through this section you can volunteer in your community, meet new people and see how your help benefits them.

Volunteering for a period of time gives you the opportunity to meet people in the community that you may not have had the chance to interact with and find out what a positive difference you can make. This can help you improve your teamwork and communication skills as well as give you more confidence.

Exemple areas of activity:

  • Helping people in the community
  • Protecting the environment
  • Charity work
  • Working with young people
  • Community training and health education
  • Help in emergency services

Physical recreation

The Physical Recreation section encourages you to improve your health and fitness, regardless of your current physical condition. You can choose a team sport, an individual sport or a health-enhancing activity.

It could be something you already do regularly, have tried before or something completely new to you. The Physical Recreation section  will help you to feel healthy and happy, build valuable team skills, gain self-esteem and confidence. And it’s a lot of fun too!

Exemple areas of activity:

  • Ball sports
  • Winter sports
  • Fitness activities
  • Adventure sports
  • Athletics
  • Martial arts
  • Water sports
  • Sports with animals
  • Other

Skills

In the Skills section you can develop your personal interests and your practical and social skills. You can choose to improve a skill you have already acquired or take up something new. The important thing is to try, learn something and get better at it – that way you will feel satisfied that you have achieved your goals.

Colleges, universities and employers value not only academic preparation, but life skills too!

Exemplary areas of activity:

  • Music
  • Sports related
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Communications
  • Nature and Environment
  • Games
  • Life skills
  • Technical and vocational skills
  • Performing skills

Adventurous Journey

You’ll need a sense of adventure for the Adventurous Journey section, as you’ll be embarking on a team expedition or exploration.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about nature, as well as develop your confidence, teamwork skills and strengthen your health.

The challenge is tough and may take you out of your comfort zone, but you’ll be safe after undergoing special training under the guidance of experienced professionals and you certainly won’t regret it!

  • Exploring the natural world
  • Historical study about the cultivation of the land
  • Research on the survival or extinction of a language
  • Study of human influence
  • Conducting health surveys
  • Hike, bike, canoe/kayak or walk
  • Kayaking the entire length of a river
  • Following an ancient pilgrimage route
  • Biking along an ancient path

Residential project

The Residential project section is only done at Gold level and you need a sense of adventure and challenge for it!

For a Residential project you need to participate in a shared activity or specific training course with people you don’t know that will build on some of the talents you’ve developed in another section, learn something new or help others. The project is a big, exciting and extremely fulfilling experience that will leave you with a huge sense of achievement.

  • Courses for personal development
  • Environment and conservation projects
  • Helping other people and communities
  • Sports activities and skills

Adventurous journey

On an adventure trip your group will be prepared by an experienced mountaineer who will make sure the experience is both exciting and safe. As with the other sections, their role is to help only when needed – you and your companions are responsible for navigating, cooking, setting up camp and everything else.

What are the benefits for you?

New skills

You’ll learn skills that will be useful in real life. It’s up to you to choose what they will be.

Teamwork

You will have the opportunity to develop and apply your skills of goal setting and teamwork, perseverance, persistence, and adventurous spirit.

Great cause

You will become part of an international community of Award participants from over 130 countries;

A touch of nature

On the adventurous journey you will experience Bulgaria’s nature together with other young people.

New opportunities

You will discover new interests and worlds, friends and opportunities on an international level.

Self development

You will increase your self-confidence and self-esteem;

Attitude towards the world

You will acquire an active and motivated attitude towards the world around you.

Prestigious certificate

You will be rewarded for your efforts with the prestigious The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award certificate, which could bring you additional benefits when applying for university and work.

Join the Award!

Want to challenge yourself and try to achieve the Award? Check if your school or organisation is a member using the list and map below. There you can find the coordinator’s name and contact them and they will help you sign up.

Not finding your organization? Sign up in the virtual centre.

If your school or organisation is not listed – you can also sign up directly in our virtual centre here.