The gold standard for community service
 By Meghan Sired
It took Murtaza Amirali three years to complete the Duke
of Edinburgh’s Award—in between classes and sleep—but
in the end, he was left with great memories, new ideas and
an award that is among the highest accolades a young Canadian
can receive.
When Amirali, 24, signed up to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s
Gold Award in 2003, he was looking for a personal challenge.
He quickly learned that in order to complete the award—while
studying for a bachelor’s of biological science at U
of C—he had to be highly motivated, strong, compassionate,
energetic and skilled.
“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime that gives you insight into
your world and tests your limits, but in the end, I came out with a broader
perspective of the world I live in. It has been a life-changing experience,” he
says.
The award was created after His Royal Highness The Duke of
Edinburgh was approached in the 1950s by his ex-headmaster
to set up a national program of youth activities. The Duke
agreed to become the patron and chairman of trustees for the
program, and has continued in this capacity since 1956.
Amirali, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, says he first heard
about the award from a fellow traveler while in Africa. Through
it, he became involved in a variety of personal development
activities that included community service, expeditions, skills
development and physical recreation.
Amirali credits the U of C for providing a number of ways
to log hours for the award. “The opportunities at the U of C are incredible and it would have been
difficult completing the award if it hadn’t been for the university,” he
says. “I strongly credit my completion of this award to my involvement
with various projects through the Student Life Office, such as Project Serve
Canada, Student Ambassadors, Student Leadership Program and the University
of Calgary Solar Car Team.”
Amirali found working with the solar car team especially
challenging since he was one of the few members on the team
not in the Schulich School of Engineering. “My mechanical
ability was not as great—the most challenging aspect
for me was assisting in the assembly and maintenance of the
vehicle. Although this was a challenge, it was a wonderful
learning experience,” he says.
In another project, Amirali spent a reading week with 19
others sprucing up McMan Daycare in northeast Calgary. The
team transformed the walls of the day care from faded blue
and white to rich earth colours. Amirali found the experience
tested and reaffirmed many of the values he shares with family
and friends—the
need to help others and to stay connected with the community.
Amirali completed his BSc degree in June 2006, and is currently
working on an internship at the Calgary Health Region while
taking extra courses in preparation to pursue a master’s
in global health. He hopes to travel to South America and Asia
to learn more about the cultures there. He also dreams of finding
a career where he will use his skills in the field of biological
and health sciences, while also reducing global disparities.
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