SALUTATION

• THE COAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
• THE COAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR, TEACHER SERVICE COMMISSION
• THE PRINCIPAL, OSHWAL ACADEMY, MOMBASA
• HEADS OF INSTITUTIONS
• AWARD COORDINATORS/LEADERS
• AWARD PARTICIPANTS
• TRUSTEE, PA-K BOARD
• PA-K STAFF
• PARENT’S, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I would like to appreciate the warm welcome we have been accorded by the Oshwal Academy fraternity, I would also like to appreciate each and everyone of you for finding time to participate in this special recognition ceremony.

Allow me to pass special greetings from the rest of the Board of Trustees, led by the Chairman, Fr. (Dr.) Dominic Wamugunda.

This ceremony allows me to interact with a critical segment of our stakeholders, that is, young people and their adult helpers. It also comes at the backdrop of PA-K’s Strategy realignment to provide enhanced access, expand its reach and demonstrate the impact of the Award in transforming lives and communities.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me take you down memory lane for a moment in regard to the Award programme in the Coast Region;

The Award was launched in Kenya by Kenya’s Founding President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1966.This was barely a decade after it was established by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip in 1956. By then Kenya was at its early stages of development after independence and the government was keen to introduce into the country any best practice across the world that would add value and speed up the socio-economic transformation of Kenya.

Though the Secretariat was in Nairobi, Coast region and particularly, Mombasa schools were among the first to take up The Award. At one point, a Gold Award Holder who was employed by the Kenya Navy started The Award within the Navy for the benefit of the cadets. Together with the existing units in Mombasa, they formed the very first Award Regional Coordinating centre in Kenya, one that preceded the current networking witnessed in the region.

I would also like to underscore that The Award in Kenya has included young people from diverse social-cultural, economic and geographical backgrounds. The Award is available in correctional centres, borstal institutions and is being rolled out to inmates in prison departments within the Award participation age bracket. In this light, the Programme is delivered at the Shimo La Tewa Borstal Centre.

I am pleased that as we come together today, we can explore ways of strengthening the Award delivery at our respective Institutions and more importantly network in order to take the Award to the next level in the region. We are advantaged to have the presence of the offices of the Regional Director’s, Ministry of Education and Teacher’s Service Commission, who, I believe are at a vantage position to enable the Award Programme expand across the region effectively.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is important that I share with you some of our key highlights on the national scene;

1. i) So far over 500,000 participants have gone through the Award Programme. A majority of them are now in their adult stages and are serving the country In various spheres of development.
2. ii) The Award participants from various Award centers across the country are investing thousand of hours every week through community service and residential projects to positively contribute to development solutions in communities. In the last 4 years Award participants invested an estimated 4.5million hours in community service.
3. iii) The first Award Center in the Africa region to have had its participants achieve their Bronze certificates on the digital platform, the online record book, is Oshwal Academy, Mombasa. We thank the School administration for making the country proud.
4. iv) The Award has a presence in over 140 countries and territories globally under the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation. The President’s Award – Kenya ranks 1st in the Africa Regional and 2nd globally for its participation levels and impact in society.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Even with the remarkable successes I have shared, we have also experienced challenges in the delivery of the Award too. One of the challenges, I feel is worth sharing is limited awareness and recognition of The Award generally and specifically by Administrators in the Education sector. In this regard I am requesting your support in advancing the cause of The Award so that many more students and adult helpers can participate and benefit from the Award experience.

The President’s Award – Kenya is committed to strengthening partnerships in the Education sector so that we can collaboratively expand the avenues for strong positive character formation for our young people.

With testimonies on the impact of The Award, I wish to conclude by urging all of us to support the cause of The Award so that we sufficiently equip our young people to thrive and be globally competitive. #WORLREADY

I wish you well in your respective engagements and look forward to our continued interaction in other forums.

I wish to thank the adult helpers for supporting young people to successfully complete their Bronze and Silver levels.

Finally, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Bronze and Silver Awardees and encourage you to become economic and social change agents In communities.

THANK YOU.