Duke of Edinburgh

DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S INTERNATIONAL AWARD PROGRAMME

ISZL students who wish to take on a greater challenge may participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Scheme. As part of the programme students learn the importance of self-discipline, enterprise and effort.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award equips young people for life and work. It is the world's leading youth achievement award. In 2013, more than one million young people took part in the Award in over 140 countries and territories.

Since the launch of the award nearly 60 years ago, it has inspired more than eight million young people to transform their lives. By creating opportunities for participants to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure, the Award can play a critical role in their development outside the classroom. Their achievement in the programme is consistently recognised worldwide, which gives student an unique international accreditation of their experiences.

The International Award is open to all students. The programme operates on three levels with increasing degrees of challenge. Depending on age, our students can work towards the Bronze (14+ years old), Silver (15+ years old) or Gold Award (16+ years old).

Students commit to the programme for the entirety of a year and will participate in an activity, service project, skill and various expeditions in the Alps. Students are also required to attend first aid and map skill courses.

A vital part of the experience is that all participants exhibit a role of responsibility and independence while participating in the programme. We welcome parents to encourage and support their child, but our primary goal is to foster greater independence, awareness and responsibility from participants.

Students have engaged in numerous trips to the mountains and valleys of Switzerland. In addition, ISZL has offered numerous overseas expeditions to further challenge students. Students have visited Corsica, scaled Kilimanjaro, ascended to the ruins of Machu Picchu and climbed to Everest Base Camp.

To learn more about this programme, please visit the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Programme's website.