Zambia was honored to host Mr. Martin Houghton-Brown, Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation. His visit celebrated youth achievements, reinforced strategic partnerships, and explored new avenues for integrating non-formal education into the national development agenda.
The visit began in Livingstone, where Mr. Houghton-Brown was warmly welcomed by Her Worship the Mayor, Constance Nalishebo Muleabai, together with Board Chairperson, Martin Matabishi, and National Director, Twaambo Chikoye. The occasion marked a historic moment, the recognition of the first-ever Bronze Award participants in Southern Province. While in Livingstone, the Secretary General also engaged directly with Award participants, hearing firsthand about their experiences and the impact the programme has had on their skills, confidence, and community involvement.
In Lusaka, Mr. Houghton-Brown met with Honourable Douglas Syakalima, Minister of Education, to discuss the ongoing integration of the Award framework into selected government schools and explore opportunities to embed it further into Zambia’s national education strategy. The discussions focused on enhancing young people’s critical thinking, community service, and physical well-being through the Award. His engagements in the capital also included a strategic meeting with UNDP, where discussions centered on aligning the Award with broader youth development, education, and sustainable development initiatives in Zambia.
During his time in Lusaka, the Secretary General was also part of an important engangement at State House, where he met with senior government officials. (Read more about the State House meeting here.)
Mr. Houghton-Brown further joined Sport in Action at their anniversary events, where he interacted with Award participants representing both Sport in Action and other Award Centres. This gathering provided an opportunity for young people to share their Award journeys and showcase the impact of the programme on their personal growth, resilience, and commitment to community service. (A detailed story of the Sport in Action engagements is found here.)
For decades now, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award has partnered with Ministries of Education and youth organizations worldwide to embed non-formal learning into educational systems. By promoting leadership, resilience, and essential life skills, the Award remains the world’s most widely recognized accreditation of young people’s achievements outside the classroom. The Secretary General’s visit to Zambia was a testament to the enduring power of the Award to unite stakeholders, inspire young people, and strengthen collaborations that prepare the next generation to thrive in an ever-changing world.
