面对疫情, 英国王子发表公开信

英国爱德华王子联同爱丁堡公爵国际奖基金会全球秘书长梅约翰发表公开信为大家在疫情中打气

公开信全文：

亲爱的朋友们，

今天，我们共同面对充满挑战和不确定的时代！

越来越多的人受到新冠病毒传播的影响，我们各自的管理机构和年轻的奖项参与者也不能避免，尽管我们的故事并不全是暗淡。我们必须做出积极反应，以符合我们理念的方式生活：增强能力、追求进步、提升多样化和相互联系。正是在这样的时刻，建立韧性、加强沟通、鼓励适应性、解决问题和提升韧性更加重要。作为爱丁堡公爵国际奖全球社区，我们将比以往任何时候都更加努力地做到这一点。

这次疫情重新书写了我们的互动方式和日常生活方式。对许多人来说，这是一个非常大的挑战，年轻人当然不能不受此影响。虽然我们认识到越来越多的人将不能上学、不能参加青年组织、不能参加青年俱乐部或体育俱乐部，但我们坚信，奖项能够而且应该在目前青年人的生活中发挥重要作用。

我们认识到，大家都面临着三个相互关联的挑战和机遇。首先，我们必须照顾那些为我们以及和我们一起工作的人。第二，要千方百计让青年人继续参加奖项活动，让他们的努力得到认可。第三，如果这样做是安全的，并且在国家和地方公共卫生指导的范围内，我们必须支持年轻人做更多的事情。这最后一点听起来可能有悖常理，但我们认为，青年人通过其成年导师的适当指导，可以将他们的志愿工作转变为提供至关重要的支持，使他们自己的社区在这一前所未有的时代更加具有适应力。我们已经听到奖项参与者和他们的成年支持者展示了这种精神：从确保那些被孤立的人能接到电话和聊天；到找到创造性的方式分发食物、肥皂和洗手液等必需品。奖项全球大家庭已经在努力以负责任的方式支持当地社区。

不可避免地，基金会的工作人员受到影响，疫情严重限制了我们四处走动和提供面对面的培训、支持或建议的能力。计划或举办活动，尤其是在未来3-4个月内，将不得不从根本上重新设想，因为人们不太可能旅行。值得庆幸的是，近年来我们引进了数字系统和平台，这意味着我们可以继续合理有效地运营。我们一如既往地在这里尽可能地支持和帮助你们，特别是在上述三个挑战和机遇方面。

我们将努力通过定期的数字简报，让奖项大家庭中的每个人都能更好地了解情况和建立联系。特别是，我们将收集并与您分享故事、建议和想法，以展示您和奖项参与者如何激励我们所有人做出积极的改变。

我们最诚挚的问候送给迄今为止受到新冠病毒影响的所有人和那些在未来几周和几个月不可避免地受到影响的人们。我们向您和您的家人致以最良好的祝愿，希望您一切安好。

在当下，紧密的协同努力变得更加重要。对于我们的年轻人来说，此刻正是他们的关键时刻来响应奖项的口号：为世界而努力！

诚祝春安！

韦塞克斯伯爵，爱德华王子

爱丁堡公爵国际奖基金会 理事长

梅 约翰

爱丁堡公爵国际奖基金会 秘书长

英国爱德华王子联同爱丁堡公爵国际奖基金会全球秘书长梅约翰发表公开信原文

20 March 2020

Dear friends,

Together, we face challenging and uncertain times.

Fewer and fewer of us can avoid the impact of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our respective governing bodies and young people doing their Award are no different, although our story is not all gloom and doom. We are having to react and in a way that lives up to the values we believe in being empowering, progressive, diverse and connected. It is exactly at times like these that building resilience, enhancing communication, encouraging adaptability, problem solving and tenacity are even more essential. As an Award community, we will be striving to do that more than ever.

This pandemic has re-written the way that we interact and the ways in which we go about our daily lives. For many, this presents a very large challenge and young people are certainly not exempt from that. While recognising that an increasing number will not be able to attend schools, youth organisations, youth clubs or sports clubs, we strongly believe the Award can and should play an important part in young people’s lives at this time.

We recognise that there are three inter-related challenges and opportunities facing us all. Firstly, we must look after those who work for us and with us. Secondly, we must do everything we canto ensure that young people can still participate in Award activities and gain their Bronze, Silver or Gold recognition of their efforts. Thirdly, where it is safe to do so – and within the context of both national and local public health guidance - we must empower young people to do more than just participate. This last point may sound counter-intuitive, but we believe that young people, through proper guidance by their adult mentors, can turn their volunteering into providing the vital support that their own communities need to be resilient in these unprecedented times. Already we are hearing of Award participants and their adult supporters demonstrating that spirit: from ensuring that those who are isolated receive a phone call and a chat; to finding creative ways to distribute essentials such as food, soap and hand sanitizer. The global Award family is already working hard to support local communities responsibly.

Inevitably, the staff of the Foundation have been affected, seriously limiting our ability to move around and deliver face-to-face training, support or advice. Planning or running events, especially over the next 3-4 months, will have to be radically re-imagined asit is impossible for people to travel. Thankfully, the introduction of our digital systems and platforms over recent years means that we can continue too perate reasonably effectively. We are here, as ever, to support and help youas much as we can, especially in relation to these three challenges and opportunities.

We will be endeavouring to keep everyone in the Award family better informed and connected through regular digital briefings. In particular, we will be collecting and sharing stories, insights and ideas with you to show how you and Award participants are helping to inspire us all to make a positive difference.

Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 virus to date and those who will inevitably be affected in the coming weeks and months. We send our very best wishes to you and your families and we hope you all remain safe and well.

We can't recall a time when working together has been more important. There has rarely been a more important time for our young people to be #WORLDREADY.

Our warmest wishes,

HRH The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO, Chairman of Trustees and John May OBE DL, Secretary General