What is ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award’?
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award open to any young person between the ages of 14-24 that is delivered in over 130 countries. In Turkey it is represented under the National Authority of TIKAV (Turkey Human Resources Education and Health Foundation) under the name ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award-Türkiye’.
What are the conditions needed to join the Award?
As long as the participants are between 14-24, have determined their programme activities with their Award Leader and have paid the ‘Participant Donation’ fee, they can begin their Award.
What are the Award categories?
There are three Award Categories.
Bronze Award: This Award category is open to young people between the ages of 14-24. The Programme lasts for at least 6 months.
Silver Award: This Award category is open to young people between the ages of 15-24. The Programme lasts for at least 12 months.
Gold Award: This Award category is open to young people between the ages of 16-24. The Programme lasts for at least 18 months.
What activities are there in each category?
The Award consists of Voluntary Service, Skills Development, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and Residential Project (only for the Gold Category).
How can I join the Adventurous Journey?
The Adventurous Journey is one of the sections that have to be completed within the Award. For this reason only Award participants can join.
How are activities monitored?
The activities are monitored via the Online Record Book; each month the Award Leader controls the logs of the pariticpants and makes sure that they are uploading their data regurlarly.
How do you receive the Award?
If the pariticpants complete all sections of the categories within the necessary time frame, they have gained the right to an Award. Afterwards, the participant is given a ceritifacate and badge at an Award Ceremony.
I’ve completed all three sections of the Award (Skills Development, Physical Recreation and Voluntary Service). If I do not take part in the Adventurous Journey do I still gain the right to an Award?
The Award categories consist of 4 sections (only in Gold is there an extra section). All sections must be completed within the stated time frame in order to gain an Award.
Where can the certificate attained at the end of the Award be used?
The Award is delivered in over 130 countries. This globally recognised ceritifcate can be used for university, job and scholarship applications.
I want to join the Award, but it isn’t delivered in my school. How can I join?
In this situation you can become an Independent Award Participant. You can contact us by sending an email to bagimsiz@intaward.org.tr with your name-surname, date of birth, address and school details explaining that your organisation does not deliver the Award. The National Office will assess this email and you will be assigned an Award Leader. You may start with the support of an Indepdentent Award Leader.
Are either of the categories superior to one another?
All categories are fundamentally the same and none are superior to the other. Only the time frame to complete the categories and the mandatory starting ages are different.
Can one start the Award in Turkey and continue in another country if needed?
Since the Award is delivered in over 130 countries according to the same International Standards, if the participant leaves to another country, he/she can continue if it is delivered in that country.
What is needed in order to deliver the Award in our organisation?
In order to deliver the Award in your organisation, a Sub-Licence Agreement must be signed between the organisation and The National Authority. After this licence is signed you became an ‘Award Unit’. After receiving the necessary training from the National office you can begin to deliver the Award in your organisation. To begin the processes please send an email to The National office via info@intaward.org.tr
What training is needed in order to deliver the Award in our organisation?
Each organisation needs 2 Award Leaders (one of them must be an Award Coordinator) and 1 Supervisor. Training is given by the National Office.
Who is an ‘Award Leader’, how can I become an ‘Award Leader’?
An Award Leader is a trained volunteer that becomes the mentor of the Award participant throughout their journey. To become an Award Leader, your organisation must have signed a Sub-Licence agreement with the National Office and you must have attended one of our training sessions.
Who is an ‘Independent Award Leader’, how can I become an ‘Independent Award Leader’?
An Independent Award Leader is a trained volunteer that does not belong to any organisation (Award Unit). In order to become an Independent Award Leader please send your pre-registration to info@intaward.org.tr with information such as your name, sur-name, date of birth, organisation (if applicable), city, phone number and email address). After the National Office assesses your pre-registration, as long as there is space you will be placed into the contigent for the closest training dates.
Who is a ‘Supervisor, how can I become a ‘Supervisor’?
A Supervisor is the trained volunteer who helps train and prepare young people for the Adventurous Journey section; he/she is also responsible of the safety of the participants. To become an Award Leader, your organisation must have signed a Sub-Licence agreement with the National Office and you must have attended one of our training sessions.
Who is an ‘Assessor’?
An Assessor, determined by the Award Pariticpant or Award Leader, is the adult responsible of overseeing whether or not the Pariticpant has taken part in or completed his/her activities. They are the ones who sign-off the completion of the Award in the pariticpants’ Record Book even before the Award Leader passes judgement.
Can I start directly with the Gold category?
If you are older than 16 years old, you can start the Gold Category.
What amount of time is needed in order to complete the Award categories; is there a deduction if one continues straight from one category to another?
For each category of the Award, there is a time frame in which you must complete the programme. According to this;
Bronze Award: at least 6 months (26 weeks).
Silver Award: at least 12 months (52 weeks).
Gold Award: at least 18 months (78 weeks).
If one takes part in one Award and continues straight on to the other category then there is a deduction in time for the next category. According to this;
If you move on from Bronze to Silver, then you only have to do all three sections for a total of 6 months (26 weeks).
If you move on from Silver to Gold, then you only have to do all three sections for a total of 12months (52 weeks).
Important Note: If you move from Bronze to Gold then you do not have any time deduction.
Can a family member be an ‘Award Leader’ or ‘Award Assessor’?
It is not appropriate for family members to become Award Leaders or Award Assessors. This situtation would not allow the young person to socialise as much and fully develop their own self-discipline.
Can the ‘Participant Donation’ fee be paid after the Award has begun?
The Pariticpant Donation fee must be paid before the Award has begun.
Can we partner with the The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award-Türkiye?
We sign strategic partnerships with some organisations (non-governmental organisations and private companies). Within this scope, we carry out work together based on overlapping goals.
For more information please send an email to info@intaward.org.tr
Can we spend time with other groups during the Adventurous Journey?
It is expected that all Adventurous Journey groups stick to their own group in order to develop teamwork skills and develop communication between eachother.
Are there amenities in the area in which we will be carrying out our Adventurous Journey?
No there are no amenities. You must take care of your personal ‘needs’ in nature.
Can we get more items from our vehicles or our teachers during the Adventurous Journey?
All items needed for the Adventurous Journey must be with the participants at all times. They cannot take more items from their vehicles, Award Leaders or Supervisors. They must plan beforehand.
Does the Adventurous Journey team organise accommodation and transportation?
No, the Award Unit or participants must organise their own accommodation and transportation.
If an accident occurs during the Adventurous Journey, is it still counted?
Just like with the other sections, all sections must be completed within the time frame mentioned for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award categories. If participants cannot complete the section for one reason or another (including accidents), they must take part in the Adventurous Journey again at a later date to gain their Award.
Please contact us if you have more questions: info@intaward.org.tr