Award Leader Alamin Pirani’s Impact

From his earliest days as a five-year-old Scout in Kenya, Vancouver-based Award alumni & Leader Alamin Pirani’s life has been shaped by a spirit of adventure, resilience and service. In this Q&A, Alamin speaks to the ways that his involvement in Scouting and the Award, has helped him to inspire generations of young people to dream bigger, overcome obstacles, and build the skills and confidence for a fulfilling life.  

Q: Tell us about your Award experience — when, why, and how did you first get involved, and what inspired you to become an Award Leader?   

A: My Award journey began as a young Scout in Kenya, where I first heard about the “President’s Award,” as the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is known in Kenya.   

In Scouting, I was working towards what we called the Lion Scout award, which was well aligned with the Duke program. I started working through the Award program, and did my Bronze in ’75, and then my silver in ‘76 and then achieved Gold in ‘78.   

One of my most memorable achievements was climbing Mount Kenya for my Silver Award. I had just recovered from back surgery, and reaching that summit taught me about perseverance and possibility.   

For my Gold, I set an even bigger goal: ascending Mount Kilimanjaro, which required weeks of preparation and skills development, which I learned through the Outward Bound Mountain School. These experiences shaped my sense of perseverance and teamwork.  

When I moved to Canada as a young adult, I got involved in the local Scouts organization, and later became an Award Leader to help guide and support other youth in their own journeys.  

Personal Impact  

Q: How has your experience and time as an Award Leader influenced your life, career path, and outlook on youth development?    

A: The Award helped me go beyond my comfort zone as a youth, and later, it became my framework for growth as an adult. Climbing Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro especially in the face of adverse weather and medical setbacks showed me the power of determination and teamwork. Experiencing the positive impact that mentors had on me shaped my career path, leading me to leadership roles in Scouts Canada and to a lifelong commitment to mentoring youth. Encouraging others to achieve their “summits” became my passion.  

Leadership & Service  

Q: What are some of your favourite experiences being an Award Leader?    

A: There’s nothing like witnessing a young person conquer their own version of Kilimanjaro, whether it’s an adventurous journey or a community service project.  

One memorable highlight for me was guiding my daughter and her peers through their Gold Award, including supporting them on multi-day hikes and cycling trips.    

Helping another group of girls plan and carry out a challenging bike ride for their Silver Award, watching them grow in confidence and resilience reminded me of my own youthful expeditions.   

Similarly, one of our girl participants experienced a lot of health issues, and as a result, spent a lot of time at Children’s Hospital. As part of her community service, she came up with a plan to raise money for the hospital. Ultimately, she surpassed her goal of raising $1,000, and ended up raising almost $3,000, plus scores of brand-new toys that people gave her, which were presented to children at the hospital.  

In the pursuit of her Silver Award skills development, another girl has set a plan to build a website for a Children’s Crisis Centre over the next 52 weeks.   

These moments, both large and small, as well as seeing these young participants forge relationships through their Award journeys that often turn into lifelong friendships, all make being an Award Leader so rewarding.    

Looking Ahead  

Q: Why do you believe the Award is important for young people today?    

A: The Award inspires young people to push themselves beyond their comfort zones while building new skills, taking adventurous journeys, exploring ways to give back to their communities and embracing physical activity as part of a healthy life – all these qualities contributed to well-rounded personal development and fulfilment.  

The Award provides a structure for young people to set and pursue real-life goals and opportunities to develop positive traits through challenges, voluntary service, and adventurous learning.  

Q: What advice would you give to new Award Leaders, participants, or alumni who want to get more involved?    

A: To leaders: guide, don’t manage—empower youth to shape their own journey. To participants: trust the process, persist through challenges, and lean on your mentors. To alumni: stay connected and give back, your experience can inspire others.  

Final Thoughts  

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey or your hopes for the future of the Award?    

A: The Award brings my life full circle. I started as a youth, and now I’m honoured to mentor the next generation. I’m deeply committed to expanding access to the Award so more young people can benefit. As long as I’m able, I’ll continue to promote, support, and celebrate this incredible program. 

Become an Award Leader today

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