Bermudians complete Guyana jungle expedition

Exploring unspoiled landscapes, new cultural ­exchanges and coming face to face with beautiful wildlife — it’s all been in a day’s work for a contingent of 27 adventurous Bermudians.

 The Duke of Edinburgh participants have just completed a two-week expedition in the South American country of Guyana. The “Dukers” completed their Gold and Silver expeditions and residential projects as well as Award Leader training in the jungles of Guyana.

The overseas expedition held annually by the Caribbean Award Sub-regional Council (CASC) was hosted this year by The President's Youth Award  Republic of Guyana and saw over 200 people from National Award Authorities (NAAs) within the America’s Region converge on the ­nation.

Nature Kingdom

The theme for CASC 2010 was Experiencing the ­Nature Kingdom. The group visited the country’s many waterfalls including the largest single drop waterfall in the world, the breathtaking Kaieteur Falls.

They enjoyed the country’s varied landscapes ranging from miles of lush rain forest and rolling ­savannah lands through to rich, fertile agricultural lands.

The major focus for CASC 2010 was to expose ­attendees to, among other things, lifeguard certification, swimming instruction, HIV/Health peer ­education, a study of the expedition routes, the Award-in-Action, a residential project, a qualifying ­expedition and cultural ­exchanges.

Seventeen young people between the ages of 15 and 19 undertook their Silver and Gold expeditions in Guyana. They were Rachael Antonition, Zaire Bean, Patrick Chapman, Shohreh Darooyan, Aysha M. DeSilva, Talisa Dyer-Cann, Taneé Esdaille, Kristen Greene, Archer Hill, Chioma Nwasike, Jordan Osborne, Bryden Pedro, Jonté Raynor, Chéquan Richardson, Stefanny Sanchez, Trae Trott and Jahkhari Woods.

CASC 2010 was not only for young participants —nine Leaders from Bermuda also travelled with the contingent. They were chairman Kenneth Bartram, deputy chairman Norman C. Pogson, national director Tina Nash, Lisa Brewster, Juanita Campbell, Brendan Millett, officer Jason Simons, officer André Symonds and Sonia Waldron. National director, Mrs. Tina Nash stated that “CASC 2010 was a success and an excellent opportunity for our participants and leaders to develop new skills, develop new friends, and experience a new culture. We were very pleased with how our young people and leaders represented Bermuda and experiencing CASC 2010 has prepared us well for planning our new National Expedition, called BANX, which will be launched in 2011. Attending CASC 2010 will ensure that our young people, our leaders, and Bermuda’s National Award programme will remain fit for the future and consistent with the International Award’s ­mandate for all NAAs.”

To date thousands have obtained a “DofE” Award in Bermuda. There are three levels of the Award, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, each made up of four main sections — Community Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journeys, as well as a fifth section that all Gold Award participants must undertake — a Residential Project taking many abroad on worthwhile projects. The Award programme has also enabled those over the age of 25 to become involved by volunteering and providing their time as award leaders, assessors, or other important roles. Since the award’s conception in the 1960s, over seven million young people from more than 131 countries have been motivated enough to undertake the variety of voluntary and challenging activities through the Award. Our goal is to see more young people take up the challenge.