Golden President’s Award for EHS learner

Edenvale High School (EHS) matric learner Danielle Furman achieved a gold President’s Award.

The President’s Award is a leading structured youth development programme that empowers youth aged between 14 and 24 years old to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world.

Danielle said the journey towards attaining the gold award was a life-changing experience that helped her grow and push her limits.

It was a three-year journey that saw her attain her bronze award in the first year, silver in the second and gold in the third year.

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Part of the requirements for the bronze award is to volunteer 24 hours for a community service project.

Danielle volunteered at an orphanage for babies every weekend, which she said was rewarding.

Other requirements included participation in sports every week and skill where she participated in musical theatre.
For the silver award, 48 hours of community service were required.

This time Danielle volunteered at an animal rescue centre and tutored an underprivileged Grade 10 learner from a high school in the Johannesburg CBD.
She undertook to learn guitar and did boxing for sport.

“Part of the requirement was to go on a four-day activity tour with other President’s Award participants whom I had never met before,” explained Danielle.

Activities included abseiling, rock climbing and hiking, as well as camping in tents.

The gold award required 72 hours of community service, where Danielle continued to tutor the learner for her Grade 11 year.

Besides continuing with swimming, Danielle participated in a four-day hike in the Mpumalanga escarpment.

There she and others covered over 27km while camping and carrying their supplies for the duration of the hike.

Danielle said the last requirement for the gold award is called a residential project and took place in Knysna.

Activities included preparing and painting walls at an orphanage and prepping and cleaning a local community vegetable garden.

“We then moved on to a nature reserve where we removed alien invasive plants and met one of the local inhabitants, a green mamba.

“Lastly, we spent time on the beach, not sun-bathing but doing a beach clean-up and performing an inter-tidal zone survey of key marine species.”

Danielle said the overall experience was rewarding in several ways.

“To give your time is one of the greatest gifts you can give, especially to those who do not enjoy the privileges we do,” said Danielle.

“I was pushed out of my comfort zone with the camping and hikes and realised I am tougher than I thought.”

Danielle said she learnt she does not enjoy camping in tents and sleeping on the ground.

“I have met other people I would not have met, had I not entered on this initiative and made friends from other schools and areas.”

She recommended this to anyone who wants to challenge themselves, assist the community and learn leadership skills.

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