Who We Are
The Award Equips Young People for Life & Work.
The Head of State Award Scheme is a non-formal education and learning program that challenges, empowers, and recognizes young people between the ages of 14 and 24. By recognizing the amazing things young people can do and learn outside the boundaries of formal education, the Award empowers them to discover hidden talents, develop untapped leadership potential and make a difference in their community.
The Award is delivered by adults who work with young people and is used to enhance existing programming. We offer an experiential learning framework that supports the work done to build young people’s skills, and resilience and develop the confidence they need to take their future in stride. Our program is run in cities, rural and remote areas, through public and private schools, universities and colleges, and a wide range of organizations such as Cadets, Scouts, Girl Guides, Indigenous youth groups, sports clubs, employers, youth correctional centres, and community youth organizations.
Since 1967, we have helped motivate young people in Ghana to set goals and challenge themselves to take control of their lives and futures. Today, The Head of State Award Scheme operates in eight Regions in Ghana, engaging over 15,000 young people and over 2,900 adult volunteers annually.
WHAT WE DO
The Award challenges young people to develop the skills and tools to improve themselves and their communities by encouraging them to go beyond their comfort zone.
Many young people, through lack of confidence, opportunity, or education, feel incapable of affecting real change in their communities. Our unique framework is designed to help them discover that they are more capable and powerful than they ever dreamed.
For young people, a high school diploma, college certificate or university degree shows technical prowess. An Award certificate demonstrates their individual character and represents the life skills they have developed, including confidence, a sense of purpose, resilience, problem-solving, compassion, and respect for diversity.
VISION
To be the most sustainable and leading non-formal educational framework provider for young people in Ghana.
Mission
To be the most sustainable and leading non-formal educational framework provider for young people in Ghana.
Core Values
- Teamwork
- Innovation
- Respect
- Professionalism
- Excellence
- Service
Our Philosophy
The Award is about individual challenge and developing a sense of commitment. With guidance from Award Leaders, Assessors, or other Award volunteers, each young person is encouraged to examine themselves, their interests, abilities, and ambitions, then set challenges in the four sections of the Award. These challenges become the goals young people aspire to reach and require persistence and determination to overcome.
Our Strategic Themes
To be successful in our vision, we have committed to work towards the following three strategic themes in partnership with our delivery partners:
Expand Access
Improve access for new and diverse groups of young people, removing barriers to participation.
Extend Reach
Increase the social infrastructure and geographic reach of the Award, taking the Award to our audiences.
Strengthen Impact
Improve the impact and quality of delivery of the Award, proving the Award is an essential youth program in Ghana.
