Conceptualised to challenge young people to develop their active interests and contribute to their community, the Duke of Edinburgh Award celebrates its 10th year anniversary in Bulgaria in 2024. 

To mark the occasion, the award organisation held a special ceremony to honour and celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s participants.

The British School of Sofia (BSS) had five of its brightest students acknowledged for their achievements. They received bronze badges and certificates, meaning they committed to a cause or an activity for a minimum of six months.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award categories of activities and projects to choose among are three – voluntary service, skills, and physical recreation. Additionally, students have to complete an Adventurous Journey in order to be eligible for the award.

This year, Duke of Edinburgh Award recipients got their badges and certificates from Bulgarian President Roumen Radev and British Ambassador to Bulgaria Nathaniel Copsey.

“I’d like to congratulate the award team for the fact that in just a decade, it has managed to bring together more than 2,600 girls and boys from over 70 Bulgarian schools,” Radev said.

“Your commitment, energy, and perseverance give our young people knowledge, skills, and the experience needed to develop leadership skills and contribute to society,” the Bulgarian president concluded.

The 10th anniversary edition of the ceremony brings the number of students in Bulgaria who have received the distinction to over 1,000.

“I wholeheartedly share the conviction and spirit of the initiative – through mutual causes, joint effort, and social commitment we can develop a healthier and more unified society,” Radev said.

British Ambassador Nathaniel Copsey also congratulated the honourees for their accomplishments. “I believe that you will be socially responsible and you’ll actively work for Bulgaria and Europe’s prosperous future,” Copsey said.

“When the Duke of Edinburgh inaugurated the award in 1956, his purpose was to encourage people to share skills and to create opportunities for young individuals. Today, more than 60 years later, that idea remains as important,” the British ambassador continued.

“Friendship and solidarity are of key importance during challenging moments. Your mission to connect young people is of utmost significance,” Copsey addressed members of the Duke of Edinburgh Award organisation in Bulgaria.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is open to anyone aged 12 to 24. Each young person builds their own programme – selecting activities to partake in, doing volunteering work, and engaging in projects that benefit the community.

Since its inception, the award has grown exponentially. By 2017, over six million people had taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes in the UK, and over eight million people – in the programmes across the world.