Report on Mepi Programe on Gimnazija Jesenice
Introduction
The purpose of the report is to inform future grammar school students about MEPI program. The report will cover every stage of MEPI. It was written by one of the active participants on request of school Gimnazija Jesenice to be posted on the school website.
Purpose
MEPI (The Duke of Edinburgh’s International award) is the world’s leading youth achievement award. The award is available for all youngsters, regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests. The program was created by Prince Phillip, on his own initiative to teach young people to dream big and celebrate their achievements. The program consists three stages bronze, silver and gold
Sport, skill and Voluntarism
One part of MEPI is completing a given number of hours in sport, skill and Voluntarism, where one of the areas has to be a priority which means more hours (26) have to be completed. The number of hours depends on the stage the student is at. From bronze being the lowest stage to gold being the highest. For sport, one can choose anything from water sports, athletics, gym to field sports. A skill can be anything one has not learned yet, for example, chess, juggling, playing an instrument or even solving a Rubik’s cube. Voluntarism can be done anywhere one can see themselves useful. Everything has to be written down in ORB (online record book) weekly to account for one’s hours. The work is controlled by a mentor who, at the end, writes a report and assesses the progress.
Expedition
The expedition is a several-day-lasting cross-country walk done by a team of at least four, in nature, where students prepare food and sleep in tents, no matter the weather. The expedition is planned a few months in advance and students are thought to prepare their backpacks very smart. The team has to work together to complete the expedition successfully no matter what.
Comment
Based on my experience at a bronze stage, MEPI can be lots of fun, especially the expedition. The idea of MEPI is brilliant, if you want to feel better about yourself and learn new skills.