Community-based award launched

The launching ceremony of the first community-based award programme under The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award was held in the capital’s Pink City Model Town area on Saturday, said a press release.

Pink City Home Owner Co-Operative Society Limited became the first residential community partner of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award-Bangladesh.

The ceremony was vigorous and lively with the presence of the chief guest Robert Chatterton Dickson, the British High Commissioner in Bangladesh, along with his partner and special guest Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star.

Mr Dickson said: "as the proud parent of a Gold Award winner I know that The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award does a vast amount to help young people develop as active leaders and citizens, in Bangladesh and around the world. It also provides a strong link between the UK and Bangladesh. This will be even more important as young people face new opportunities and challenges in a world recovering from Covid-19 pandemic. I am very pleased to join this Award launching ceremony and welcome the widening of their partnerships to include a local residential community".

Mr Anam said to the Award participants, "you all should have a dream, the dream to make the world more living worthy and greener. I wish this Award with its comprehensive activity programme will help you nurture and shape that dream".

The ceremony was also attended by Rizwan Bin Farouq, Member, Board of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Foundation Bangladesh; Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, TIM Nurul Kabir, Executive Director of Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Dr Shaikh Faridul Islam and Md Abdur Rahman, respectively former and current President of Pink City Home Owner Co-Operative Society Limited; Executive Committee members and other residents of Pink City Home Owner Co-Operative Society Limited; and 16 new Award participants.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is one of the leading non formal education programme operating in 130 countries and territories including Bangladesh. It offers unique opportunity to the youth aged from 14 to 24 to discover their hidden talents and to gain a special sense of responsibility and helps them prepare for future. This Award has been operated in 95 leading educational institutions and youth organisations across Bangladesh.