Duke of Edinburgh International Award Barbados Welcomes First Cohort of Youths with Disabilities, Funded by Maria Holder Memorial Trust

The Duke of Edinburgh International Award (DEIA) Barbados in collaboration with The Deaf Heart Project (DHP) has welcomed its first cohort of youth with disabilities, funded by The Maria Holder Memorial Trust.

The first participants of the programme are all students of the Irving Wilson School with varying abilities, including deaf and autistic students. Participants have been actively engaged since the official start of the programme in September 2023 in pursuit of the prestigious DEIA Bronze Award.

Project Manager of The Maria Holder Memorial Trust, Modupe Sodeyi-Boadu, shared “The Maria Holder Memorial Trust is proud to be able to support The Duke of Edinburgh International Award in this very impactful journey. We welcome the collaboration with The Deaf Heart Project as this project aligns with our strategic goal to assist with education and training particularly for children and youth in disadvantaged and vulnerable situations.

“The students of the Irving Wilson School form a part of this marginalised target group. These initiatives not only afford the opportunity for them to develop and strengthen important life skills that are transferable to living independently after they leave the school, but also provide equal opportunities to succeed in life.”

The Award Programme is an established global framework for non-formal education and experiential learning, equipping young people with transferable life skills by challenging and guiding them into developing capabilities, attitudes and values that build their capacity in navigating the world.

The Programme runs for a minimum of six months and requires all participants to complete a number of hours in four mandatory sections involving a recreational activity, learning or improving on a new skill, offering voluntary service to their community, and taking part in an adventurous journey. The Award has a notable history of helping young people to find their purpose and passion, having been operating in Barbados since 1963.

Operations Manager of the DEIA Barbados, Fabian Norville, expressed excitement at having the Award being delivered to this vulnerable group in Barbados for the first time in its 60-year history.

“This project has shown that the young people of the Irving Wilson School, regardless of their challenges, are able to dream big, learn new skills, and make an impact on their communities. We at The Award in Barbados are pleased with the efforts of our volunteers, partners, and especially our participants, and look forward to their continued development as we equip them as individuals to succeed in life,” Norville said.