The President's Award for Youth Empowerment

What The President's Award for Youth Empowerment does

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment is a South African non-profit that operates the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award programme domestically. Originally established in 1983 as the Gold Shield Award and re-launched under its current branding in 1994, it delivers a structured youth development framework covering voluntary service, physical recreation, skills, and adventurous journey activities. The organization targets South African youth aged 14-24, with approximately 4,000 active participants, a cumulative reach of 60,000+ young people over the past decade, and a delivery network of more than 700 volunteer leaders. It is headquartered in Fourways, Johannesburg, and operates with 101-250 employees.

Programme delivery is supported by an Online Record Book combined with a Portfolio of Evidence used to verify participant progress through the award levels. The revenue model is donation-driven: participation fees start at a minimum of R100 per participant, supplemented by fundraising campaigns including a dedicated Mandela Day appeal. The organization sits within the global Duke of Edinburgh's International Award network, which spans 13M+ participants across 120+ countries, providing international curriculum standards, branding, and alumni pathways.

The organization operates in partnership with schools, community organizations, and corporate sponsors. Notable strategic partnerships include Stonehage Fleming (2022), a corporate sponsorship relationship, and Afrika Tikkun (2022), a community-based youth development collaboration. Its competitive position rests on presidential patronage and global brand affiliation, with operational reach dependent on volunteer-led programme delivery rather than technology differentiation.

Name

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment

Legal name

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment

Website

https://presidentsaward.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

South African non-profit delivering the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award programme to youth aged 14-24, with 4,000 active participants, 700+ volunteer leaders, and partnerships spanning schools, corporates, and community organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Programme

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth development programme
• Non-formal education
• Community volunteering
• Leadership training
• Youth accreditation

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates as a non-profit and relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. Donations are used to enroll underprivileged youth in the Award programme.
2. Participant Enrolment Fees: Youth participants enroll in the programme, with minimum donation requirements starting at R100 for programme participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment delivers a globally recognized non-formal youth development programme for young people aged 14-24. Participants progress through three award levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold) by completing activities across four sections: Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, and Adventurous Journey, with a mandatory Residential Project added at the Gold level. The programme is delivered through schools, tertiary institutions, correctional centres, and community organizations, and is supported by an Online Record Book and Portfolio of Evidence for tracking participant progress.

Product overview

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment is a single unified youth development programme based on the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award framework. The core offering is the Award Programme itself, which challenges young people aged 14-24 through four sections (Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, and Adventurous Journey) at three progressive levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold). The programme is delivered with supporting tools including an Online Record Book and Portfolio of Evidence for activity tracking, and graduates gain access to the Global Award Alumni Network. The Gold level adds a mandatory Residential Project as the fifth section. The programme operates in schools, tertiary institutions, correctional centres, and community organizations across South Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The President's Award Programme A non-formal youth development programme for young people aged 14-24 that challenges participants to complete activities across four sections (Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, and Adventurous Journey), progressing through Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels with a mandatory Residential Project at Gold.
• Online Record Book

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 youth developed through the programme in South Africa over the past decade
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Afrika TikkuncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2022Non-Profit Company providing education, health, and social services to underprivileged communities through five centres of excellence across Gauteng and Western Cape. Currently assisting over 10,000 children and youth. The President’s Award will be available in all five Afrika Tikkun centres, delivering the programme to 685 disadvantaged young people over three years in partnership with Stonehage Fleming funding.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award FoundationflagshipOthers · 1 January 1983The governing body that oversees the Award Programme in over 130 countries and territories globally, with 18 countries in Africa. The Foundation provides the global framework, standards, and support for national operators like The President's Award for Youth Empowerment in South Africa. HRH The Earl of Wessex is Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• SOS Children's Villages South Africa: Non-profit supporting children and young people in residential care and family-strengthening programmes — overlapping vulnerable-youth segment and donor base, particularly relevant to TPA's secure-care and residential facility delivery channels.
• African Leadership Academy: Pan-African youth leadership institution delivering university-preparatory education and entrepreneurship programmes to high-potential African youth — emerging competitor for the same donor and corporate-partnership dollars targeting African youth development.

Direct peers

• Afrika Tikkun: South African non-profit delivering education, health, and social services to underprivileged youth through five centres of excellence; active TPA delivery partner and direct competitor for the same disadvantaged-youth and donor pools.
• Girl Guides South Africa: Volunteer-led non-formal youth development programme targeting girls and young women with badges, community service, and outdoor activities — overlapping age segment (5-24) and non-competitive credentialing model.
• Junior Achievement South Africa: Non-profit delivering work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programmes to South African youth through school and community partnerships — overlapping school-channel distribution and employability value proposition.
• YMCA South Africa: Community-based youth and family services organisation operating across South Africa with volunteer-driven programmes addressing youth development, leadership, and life skills.
• Scouts South Africa: National scouting organisation delivering structured youth development (skills, service, outdoor adventure) to South African youth through volunteer-led units — the most direct functional comparator to TPA's programme model.

Broad incumbents

• 4-H: US-headquartered global youth development organisation with 6M+ members delivering hands-on learning in STEM, agriculture, civic engagement, and healthy living — broader thematic comparator for non-formal youth credentialing at scale.
• Save the Children South Africa: Large international NGO with extensive South African child- and youth-development programmes across education, health, and protection — broader incumbent competing for similar institutional and corporate donor funding.

Others

• The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation: UK-based parent/governing body of the global Award framework; not a competitor but the framework provider that defines TPA's product, brand, and standards — comparable as the institutional 'operator + licence-holder' structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThePresAwardSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePresidentsAwardSA
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepresidentsawardsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-presidents-award-sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The President's Award for Youth Empowerment