As 50 young women from Tauranga Girl's College receive their Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Awards, through support from Blue Light, the awards, now over 60 years old, continue to prove why it's the leading youth achievement awards for young people.

The awards are based on the principle that young people need experiences outside the classroom in order to become committed, responsible and fulfilled citizens of the world.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award, also known as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, is a New Zealand award modelled on The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The name of the award is a reference to the famous New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary.

The awards are intended to provide young people with opportunities for important personal growth and help them develop the adaptability they need for good vocational outcomes.

Silver Award winners: L to R Back:Hannah Ward, Programmes Manager, Blue Light, Sukhleen Kaur, Eve Flint, Poppy Wilson, Charlotte Wilde, Megan Robinson, Teacher in Charge, Tauranga Girl's College. Front: Lily Pearce, Ella Ryan, Bree McTavish-Huriwai. Photo: Supplied.

'It really helps build resilience in the young women especially the Adventurous Journey component,” says Tauranga Girl's College Lead Teacher in Charge Megan Robinson. 'Students really enjoy the all-round approach to the award, and it really pushes them out of their comfort zone providing great new experiences outside their own world and school life.”

Despite the challenges posed by Covid restrictions and recent lockdowns, the programme has seen an 11 per cent increase in participation worldwide since 2020 and has, at any one time, around 20,000 young people involved.

Eve Flint receives her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award from Blue Light Programmes Manager Hannah Ward. Photo: Supplied.

Blue Light works to fulfil the award's vision that every young person in New Zealand will have the opportunity to participate.

'Having Blue Light on board to help with the funding has seen kids who may not have had the chance to do it now can with the barrier of finances taken away,” says Megan.

To earn their award, the young women must progress through four sections: skills, voluntary service, physical recreation, and adventurous journey.

Ella Ryan from Tauranga Girl's College commented that the variety in the sections was one of the main attractions for her on signing up.

'I do quite a lot and so I liked that there was a range of different things you can do within the award,” says Ella.

The Service section builds connections between youth and their community, with benefits for all involved.

'It's good to give back and it also looks good for employers on your CV,” says Tauranga Girl's College student Eva Flint.

Eva says that 'learning to do things for other organisations without being paid” was a valuable skill she had developed.

The young women's Adventurous Journey section was a memorable experience according to student Charlotte Wilde.

'When we [were] hiking we had quite bad weather and it made it quite hard,” says Charlotte. 'I definitely won't forget that trip.”

Ella too comments that for her the most challenging aspect was 'definitely the tramp for the adventurous journey”.

Over the next 12 months the young women will be focussing on completing their Gold Award which includes a residential project.

Bronze Award winners: L to R Abbie-Mae Henry, Youth Mentor, Blue Light, Isis Metcalfe (teacher), Sofi Blythe, Lucy Armstrong, Ella Rose Carter, Kyra Addison, Liv Marshall, Mia Corney, Nimah Manning, Lilly Pullar, Ella Hill, Hanyoung Kim,Giselle Li, Jin Lee, Ellie White, Prachi Patel, Tearani Wikohika, Judy Shin,Daisy Kim, Erina Islam, Sophie Chang,Kawana Marsden Youth Worker, Blue Light. Photo: Supplied.