Nacho Cano, a Year 11 student, becomes the first of our students to complete the international Duke of Edinburgh programme.

In the complex and changing world we live in, more than ever young people need the space and opportunity to develop their skills and self-confidence, and to forge the character traits that will make them capable of successfully facing any challenge in their future lives, both personally and professionally. This is the leitmotiv of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award": to give young people the opportunity to set themselves their own personal challenges and overcome them, and to recognise their abilities with a well-deserved award.

A fundamental pillar of a school's work is to ensure the enrichment of its pupils, something that must transcend the curriculum and the academic results they achieve. We talk about the opportunities that O Castro British International School offers them and the values they develop and

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which is vital for them to become global citizens ready for the next stage of their careers and personal growth.

That is why the British school based in Mos offers the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, an internationally recognised award, which challenges young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements and make a difference in their world. By developing transferable skills, increasing their fitness, cultivating a sense of adventure and volunteering in their community, the Award helps young people find their purpose, their passion and their place in the world. Founded over 60 years ago, the Award is available to all young people aged 14-24 and equips young people with the skills they need for life, regardless of their background, culture, physical ability or interests. On an individual level, this can make a transformative difference to a young person's life; on a collective level, it has the power to bring significant change to wider society.

This week, a pupil in Year 11 (4º ESO) in the Spanish system, has won the Bronze Award, and both his experience of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and his reflections on it are the best example of the goodness and benefits for the holistic development of young people. 

 

What were the biggest challenges?

One of the biggest challenges for me was leading a team. Trying to achieve the objectives of the activities we faced; doing it together, overcoming our own ideas and accepting the suggestions of others, encouraging the team and making sure that we all supported each other when the situation was unfavourable. It has been a great challenge and a great learning experience for me. Also, being the first student to finish the Duke of Edinburgh at the school was a great motivation, even though I had no previous reference. Getting to know more about the reality of disadvantaged people who have come to our country to seek a better future for themselves and their families without knowing anything about where they are going, the language or what awaits them when they arrive has also been an unexpected challenge for me.

Volunteering is one of the journeys of self-discovery that you have to make, which one have you chosen?

Yes, it is one of the activities in the programme. I have been teaching Spanish to immigrants of African origin, mainly from Senegal, to help them integrate and have a better chance of finding a job in this new stage, at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. It was a really enriching experience.

 

What have you learnt?

I have learned to be more constant, organised and hard-working, to value the things I have and the opportunities I am given.  To empathise with the problems and difficulties of others, learning to see things from the point of view of others, which I think has made me grow personally and I hope will help me to be a better person in the future.

 

Would you recommend the award?

The expedition with my colleagues was also a unique experience that I will never forget. Therefore, I would like to encourage other students to take up the DoE challenge because, like me, I believe it will leave a very positive impression on them.