PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - A total of 184 public junior high school students in Bandung City received the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Indonesia at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels at the Bandung City Hall, Thursday, October 22, 2026.

This award is a form of appreciation for students' perseverance in developing skills, social awareness, and personal character.

Of the total award recipients, 152 students earned Bronze, 18 Silver, and 17 Gold. These recipients were part of a pilot project of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program involving several public junior high schools in Bandung.

Regarding this, the Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, invited students to build strong character and develop critical thinking skills amidst the rapid development of digital technology.

According to him, academic knowledge needs to be balanced with an understanding of values, norms, and ethics in everyday life.

"The most important thing isn't just knowledge, but also strong character. We must understand the values and norms we believe in. What is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong, what is ethical and what is unethical," said Farhan.

Farhan believes that junior high school is a crucial stage for children to discover their identity. Around the age of 14–15, students begin to develop their identity through social interactions, interests, sports activities, school organizations, and the communities they join.

He reminded that the development of digital technology provides a great opportunity for the younger generation to broaden their horizons and access information from various parts of the world.

However, this convenience must be balanced with the ability to filter information, recognize true values, and make wise decisions.

"Your chances of getting ahead of us are enormous. You're exposed to things we never experienced at your age," he said.

Meanwhile, National Director of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Indonesia, Aurina Setyawitta, expressed her appreciation to all award recipients.

He said the 184 students who received the awards were among more than 500 participants who had taken part in the program to date.

Aurina explained that the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is not just a program to pursue awards, but rather a learning process that helps young people recognize their potential and develop character through various experiences.

“This award is not just about what you have achieved, but about who you have discovered throughout the process,” said Aurina.

He added that during the program, participants are encouraged to develop skills, provide community service, engage in physical activity, face challenges through adventure travel, and participate in self-development projects.

Aurina specifically commended the 17 students who earned Gold Awards. She said this achievement demonstrated the participants' commitment and perseverance in undertaking the long-term self-development process.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program has been running since 1956 and is implemented in approximately 130 countries and territories. It encourages the development of leadership, social awareness, resilience, and the human skills needed by young people to navigate changing times.

Aurina hopes that the program can be a strategic approach to support the development of the younger generation in Bandung City and become an inspiration for other regions in Indonesia.

During the event, the Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, also received appreciation in the form of a UK-ID Strategic Partnership Pin as a form of appreciation for the strategic partnership between the UK and Indonesia.

(Bandung City Communications and Information Service)