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The Governor-General's Youth Award was re-started in 1987 under the name of Bahamas Duke of Edinburgh's. Strict adherence to the principles and structure, as set down by the International Award Association, has been maintained when the names changed in 1996. The Patron in 1987 was Sir Henry Taylor, he was followed by Sir Clifford Darling. Other Patrons were Sir Orville Turnquest and Dame Ivy Dumont. The present Patron is His Excellency Honorable Arthur D. Hanna. The first participants hailed from the Boys Scouts, Girl Guides and Police Cadets.
Over the past 20 years, an estimated 8,000 young Bahamians have taken part in the GGYA.
Additional units have since been established on New Providence . These include: Aquinas College, C.C. Sweeting Sr. High School, C.I. Gibson High School. The College of The Bahamas, C.R. Walker High School, C.V. Bethel High School, Doris Johnson High School, Government High School, Jordan Prince Williams High, Kingsway Academy, Nassau Christian Academy, Queen's College, R.M. Bailey High, Mt. Carmel Preparatory Academy, St. Andrews High, St Anne's High, St. Augustine's College, St. Barnabas Boys Brigade, St. John's College, Temple Christian High, Westminster College, Police Cadets and the YEAST Programme. Family Islands involved in the GGYA are on Grand Bahama: St. Paul's Methodist College, Catholic High School, Bishop Michael Eldon High School, St. George's High School, Sir Jack Hayward High School, Sunland Baptist Academy and Lucayan International School. On Abaco units are located at Abaco Central High, S.C. Bootle High School, St. Francis De Sale, Forest Heights Academy and Wesley College. Other islands with units are Andros at North Andros High School and Central Andros High School; Eleuthera: Harbour Island All Age and North Eleuthera High and at ExumaL.N. Coakley High School. To date there are 40 units supervised by 56 adult volunteers.
Participants continue to follow skills such as computers, business training, carpentry, art & craft, music, junkanoo art, auto mechanics, fishing, drama and card collections. Some participants give valuable service to the community by helping individuals in need, animal care, conservation work, learning first aid and fundraising for charity. They participate in physical recreation activities such as swimming, yoga, team games, tennis, karate and dancing. Other activities include: Youth Marches, National Service Project such as the International Coastal Clean-up, Creek restoration and cultural events.
GGYA participants and leaders take part in the Caribbean Award Scheme Council (CASC) Adventurous Journey and the annual general meeting held on a different Caribbean Island every year.
Many have hiked over mountains in Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana and Dominica. Completed explorations on Barbados and the Cayman Islands, where a diving section was implemented.
Once a year, the GGYA holds its annual national adventurous journey known as the Bahamas Award Scheme Expedition (BASE). This event started in 1992 and takes place on a different Bahamian Island every summer.
They have hiked, camped, kayaked and explored National Parks (land and sea), on islands such as Abaco, San Salvador, Long Island, Inagua, Eleuthera, Rose Island, Exuma, Cat Island, Andros, Bimini, Berry Islands and Grand Bahama. A sailing exploration to six islands was held in 2002 to celebrate 10 years of BASE. Young people from Bermuda, Dundee Scotland and Saskatchewan Canada have also participated in BASE.
A Board of Trustee was set up in 1987 along with a National Council. The Board of Trustees is primarily responsible for the funding of the GGYA. The National Council overseas the day to day operations of the programme with the assistance of a full time National Executive Director. The Governor-General’s Youth Award first National Executive Director was hired in 1991, the present Director is Ms. Denise Mortimer.
Other information:
The Governor General's Youth Award is a member of the International Award for Young People and the Caribbean Award Scheme Council.
