By Alya Nadiah
CYBERJAYA, 13 September 2019 – A total of 25 activists from Gabungan Pelajar-Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) IIUM have received The Gold Standard of The Duke of Edinburghs International Award at the Malaysia Gold Award for Young People Ceremony 2019, held at Shaftbury Asteria, Cyberjaya, on Wednesday (11 September).
Prince Edward of Great Britain, who is the Chairman of Trustees for The Duke of Edinburghs International Award Foundation, presided over the Gold Award presentation ceremony with over 200 awardees from across Malaysia, 25 of them were from IIUM, with support from their mentor, Wan Nuzul Aiman Wan Ahmad.
This year the recipients of the awards were fortunate because the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward himself, presented the award to the recipients.
œI hope this is a moment of great joy and a sense of achievement. There are others who will say that they can achieve what you did but the difference is, you all did it, said Prince Edward in his congratulatory speech.
He also spent his time for meet and greet session with the recipients to share some best moments throughout their journey to complete the award.
Also present at the ceremony was the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Steven Sim Chee Keong, and the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay.
The award, which also named as “Anugerah Remaja Perdana Malaysia” (ARPM) by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, requires the completion of 5 elements in 18 months which are:
- Service
- Skills
- Physical Recreation
- Adventurous Journey
- Residential Project.
IIUM awardees completed the fifth element over five other countries, which were India, Cambodia, Philippine, Thailand and Turkey. The residential project included a community service of six days and five nights in the country.
The award, organised by The Duke of Edinburgh International Award in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Anugerah Remaja Perdana and Rakan Muda, is to provide a platform for youngsters to gain experience in various fields.
œThe participation is based on passion for volunteerism in facing various challenges in the realm of maturity such as exploring their self-potential, life skills, intensity and seriousness, a sense of responsibility and community service.
œNot all learning happens in the classroom, said the mentor of ARPM Rakan Muda for GPMS IIUM, Mr. Wan Nuzul Aiman Wan Ahmad.
œI hope more students from IIUM will join this programme and I will be happy to assist anyone who is interested, he added.
Since 2000 to 2018 there have been a total of 1,039 gold recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, with 44,245 silver and 116,558 bronze, from among youths between the age of 14 to 24 years from across Malaysia. ***
