At Eastwood International School in Lebanon, students are provided the unique opportunity to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards program. We are currently the only organization in the entire country licensed to conduct this popular, world-renowned program.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards began in 1956s in England. It was spearheaded by - you guessed it - Prince Philip himself (his royal title is The Duke of Edinburgh, by the way). Two other notable men were also involved: Kurt Hahn and Lord Hunt. Together, these men had experience in physical and outdoor achievements, to push personal boundaries. It did a lot for them, so they wanted to encourage young boys to do the same. Two years later, girls were invited to join in on the fun.
Thereafter, the program launched internationally. Over the last half century, the movement spread to over 240 countries around the world. For coordinators outside England, it now operates under the banner of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.
Despite its rapid adaptation around the world, the program did not appear in Lebanon until 2017. Eastwood International School in Beirut was the first in the country to bring this program to local students.

We’d encourage all our students to participate, if they can.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a systematized program for completing personal development milestones, in a documented way, with oversight. It teaches youth to pick an achievable goal, work towards it, stick to it, and see it through until the end. That act in itself says a lot; it requires a strong mindset to not give up, and to do what you say you’re going to do - even to yourself. Each Award level includes learning a new skill, regular physical activity, and volunteer service. At the end of each goal-setting routine, which gets harder and harder at each level, students are taken on an Adventurous Journey. This is a wilderness camping and hiking trip. The completion levels and requirements to achieve the Awards are listed here in more detail. Overall, the program aims at evoking a sense of confidence in a young person. That happens when one is able to challenge themselves, and to overcome that challenge. It doesn’t have to be a big challenge either. Small, simple goals are very much encouraged.

Though it is not a mandatory part of our curriculum, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an utmost, excellent and rare privilege for students at our Beirut private school. Under this scheme, they can receive international recognition for their personal development, based on interests they possess. We can’t say enough good things about it.

By ‘pushing’ themselves, participants can learn that they like something they never thought of doing before. That could turn into a new, joyous hobby, or even a career choice.

Some claim that having a Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award on your resume is an added value when seeking university placements or jobs. It certainly is a conversation-starter. It also shows that the applicant is a self-starter, has had dynamic experiences and has worked in a team setting outside of school already.

Participating in the Award instills focus, drive, stamina, and accomplishment. It teaches young people that they can make their dreams come true, if they work towards it. And that starts with the small, practical, time-consuming steps. It also demands the experience of trying, failing, and trying again. It means less time wasted on unproductive habits. We believe any well-rounded individual should learn this life lesson as early as possible, in order to be successful (at anything).

The program also has a strong physical fitness component to it. In addition to learning how to manage their time with school work and social lives, high school students keep active in a conscious, calculated way. This promotes living a healthy lifestyle no matter what, starting at an early age.

Finally, the leadership and teamwork skills obtained through the Adventurous Journeys are exceptional. The teens learn to manage on their own, in a group, during a camping and hiking trip (with adults nearby, but out of sight).

Is The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
part of your school’s curriculum? Do all students have to do it?
No. This program is entirely elective, and must be completed outside school hours (per the requirements of the foundation).

In reality, we usually only get a handful of participants. Though we’d love for this number to grow, it is noteworthy to point out that completing the program shows strength of character and time management skills that not many possess, or desire to learn (so, it is worth applauding).

Still, apart from the camping trip, acceptable goals can be as small as learning how to cook, or taking martial arts classes; it’s far from impossible! We believe anyone can do it.