IGE gets underway in Kenya

LONDON, 1 September 2011 – The International Gold Event (IGE) has officially kicked off in Kenya, with more than 100 Gold Award holders in attendance from across the globe. These young people have gathered together to learn new skills and to make a personal commitment to the International Award Programme.

The IGE is the International Award Association’s premier global youth event. Established in 1967, the event provides opportunities for Gold Award holders to contribute to the development of the Award Programme on a national and international level. It also allows young people to have their say on the International Award Association’s (IAA) governance structures.

Programme manager at the IAA, Jenny Jacobs is responsible for the content of this year’s IGE. She says it is set to be the most exciting IGE yet. “The IGE will give those attending the chance to learn new skills, give back to local communities and to the opportunity to make new friends. The IAA and the President’s Award Kenya (PA-K) are looking forward to working together and delivering the most exciting IGE ever.”

The excitement of the staff is palpable and it is double for the attendees, adds James Kinyanjui, who is the field operations and training coordinator of PA-K and responsible for the logistics of the event. “As a country, we are looking forward to welcoming all attendees and giving them a magical experience.”

Premier youth event

The event will see young people working together to contribute to the development of the Award Programme and share examples of how the Programme serves youth issues and promotes youth development in their country. A team of reporters, photographers and filmers will be capturing highlights from the event, which will be shared on the International Award Association blog and across our social media channels.

Youth Representatives will also be elected at the IGE, ahead of a Youth Forum, and will serve on the International Council – the highest decision-making body of the IAA. This gives young people an opportunity to be part of the IAA’s policy making and planning processes, ensuring that they are relevant to young people.

For Lois Kapeza from Zambia, the most important part of the IGE is the opportunity it offers to give back to the local community. “I'm pretty excited because it's a great way to meet different people and to share ideas and experiences but the most important thing I am excited about is that we will be able to give back to the local community. The IGE is not just about us coming together to have fun, it's about us giving back and working with the local community.”

Malaysian attendee Ravichandran Balasubramaniam says he is hoping to learn from others about how the Programme is delivered across the globe to support with the development of the Award in his country. “I want to learn from other attendees, especially those who are doing amazing things with the Programme. We are still developing the Award in Malaysia so I think I will be able to share things with my friends and colleagues when I return to help develop the Award further. As a Gold Award holder I feel the Programme has changed me a lot, so I'd like to bring the Award to more young people.”

IGE and beyond

The first IGE took place in Canada; since then there have been 12 IGEs. Past IGE delegates have been so inspired by their experience they have gone on to become even more involved in its development.

Peter Anum, a Gold Award holder and programme development officer from Ghana, has become a key ambassador for the Award. He ensured that the Award plays a role in the development of international youth policy by representing the IAA at the seventh Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF7) in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009.

“Having represented the Award at the Commonwealth Youth Forum, I am more than convinced that the Programme is the most powerful tool for nation building,” explains Peter who is also a staff member at this year's IGE. “Networking, communicating and sharing ideas on the impact of the Award has challenged stakeholders on what they can do to help sustain the future through youth development.”

IGE Kenya – a new frontier

This is the first time delegates have played such an active role in the preparation and evaluation of an IGE, outcomes of which will be fed directly into the IAA’s 11th International Forum in Malta 2012.

Like the Forum in Australia young people will lead the way in Kenya. They will contribute to both the content and the process, bringing with them their skills, expertise and networks. Young people are key to the success of the IGE and to the future of the Award, which is why in Sydney, the IAA committed to engaging them as valued partners in all its work.

A big thanks to Kenya Airports Authority, who organised a meet and greet for IGE attendees, in partnership with PAK.