Magnus, a Year 10 student at Phorms Campus Berlin Mitte, shows what can happen when young people are given the space to pursue their own interests, stay the course, and rise to new heights.

He participates in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and is now a Youth Ambassador for the Duke Award in Germany.

Magnus’s journey began with a specific curiosity:

“I actually started because I thought the expedition and the idea were great,” he says. “And then I realized how much more there was to it.”

That is precisely where the program’s special value lies.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an international program for young people that combines personal development, community service, and independence.

Over an extended period, participants set their own goals in the areas of volunteer service, fitness, personal talents, and an expedition. As the highlight, they independently plan and complete a journey of discovery as a group—for example, a two-day hike with an overnight stay in a tent.

Each of these areas challenges young people in a different way. They learn to take responsibility for themselves and others, discover their own strengths, set realistic goals, and persevere even when things don’t work out right away.

At many of our Phorms schools, the Duke Award is part of the learning culture. At Phorms Campus Berlin Mitte, too, it gives students the opportunity to gain experiences outside of traditional classroom instruction that can have a lasting impact.

As a Youth Ambassador, Magnus is now taking it a step further. In this role, he represents the Award, participates in workshops and events, can develop his own projects, and shares his experiences with other young people.

In an interview, Magnus describes what was challenging for him at the beginning:

“Taking charge of my own organization was very difficult at first,” he says. At the same time, he describes this very aspect as an area where you can really feel yourself growing during the program.

In his role, Magnus also wants to encourage other young people to contribute their own ideas and get involved in the program. In this way, he hopes to further strengthen the Award at his school.