Twenty outstanding young people honoured with Legacy Award for The Diana Award's 25th Anniversary year.
On Thursday 14 March 2024 HRH The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex honoured and met with twenty exceptional young people, from across the world, with The Legacy Award set up in memory of Diana, the late Princess of Wales.
Taking place every two years, The Legacy Award is the most prestigious accolade a young person can receive for their social action or humanitarian work.
This year’s Legacy Award marks the start of The Diana Award’s 25th Anniversary year – a charity set up in memory of Diana, the late Princess of Wales and her belief that young people have the power to change the world.
All the Legacy Award recipients – who come from the UK, USA, Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, UAE, Oman, Romania, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Australia - have had a huge impact on society.
Many of them only know Princess Diana as a historical figure but they carry the honour of The Diana Award with pride. As well as receiving The Legacy Award, recipients receive bespoke personal and professional development support to enhance their social action work with the long-term aim of inspiring and mobilising other young people to engage in social action.
Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive, The Diana Award says:
“As we mark the start of our 25th Anniversary year these young people couldn’t be a more fitting tribute and legacy to Diana, the late Princess of Wales and her belief that young people have the power to change the world. Through their courage, selflessness and sheer determination they are making change happen, often, in the face of huge adversity. Their compassion, determination and agency to make positive change today and in the years ahead is immense.”
The 20 Legacy Award recipients have been chosen by a prestigious independent judging panel, chaired by Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who had the difficult task of selecting just 20 from a pool of exceptional individuals, already recognised for their impact on society with The Diana Award in 2022 or 2023.
Companies who have helped to support The Legacy Award Development Programme include title sponsor Gilead Sciences who have supported The Legacy Award since its inception.
Alex Kalomparis, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences, said;
“These young people represent the next generation of change-makers and innovators across the globe and it is their stories from which we should listen and learn. This is why Gilead Sciences is supporting The Diana Award, which recognises young people who are already making strides for social and humanitarian change. We are immensely proud to continue our support for this programme that mentors these young winners and encourages them to make a lasting impact on the world.”
IN ORDER OF AWARD PRESENTATION
Ruhil Foundation
Pakistan, Age 26
Alizey established the RUHIL Foundation, with the goal of ensuring nobody would go hungry in her city. To combat food poverty, they delivered 5,500 monthly food parcels and 10,000 meals. Alizey soon realised the multidimensional nature of poverty and raised over $150,000 to offer education and shelter support. The foundation also tackles taboo issues by supporting sex workers, orphaned children, and transgender communities, while also raising awareness about period poverty in Pakistani society. Alizey's contributions include providing education to 150 children of sex workers and serving as an honorary fundraising director for Begum Inayat Welfare Society, an orphanage housing 77 children.
Cases 4 Care Indonesia
Indonesia, Age 18
At age 11, Chiara founded Cases 4 Care Indonesia, after learning about the human rights violations at Southeast Asia's biggest landfill site. It has provided the 1,000 landfill children with informal education by furnishing five libraries with 1,500 books and lobbying for donations with multinational corporations. In 2023, they began to expand to refugee communities. Through her passion for public speaking, TED Talks, and Symposiums, Chiara believes that advocacy is key. Her passion for upholding children's rights started with Model United Nations, where she won multiple international awards through debating mostly for women’s and children’s rights.
Changemaking Education in the Caribbean
Jamaica
A student advocate from age 11, Christina’s achievements include successfully lobbying for student access to health insurance island-wide, reducing student deregistration by 99%, and an emergency fund to support the most disadvantaged students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she fundraised millions of Jamaican dollars in supplies to support homeless students and those unable to leave their campuses due to closed borders. Her work has been recognised by the European Union, United Nations, and Commonwealth Secretariat. Christina has a passion for policy and partnerships, which she leverages to drive positive change for people and for the planet.
Protect Our Future
Cayman Islands, Age 21
Dejea has dedicated herself to working for a better future for her home, the Cayman Islands, with the hope to create a future free of environmental destruction. Youth-led environmental organisation Protect Our Future boasts over 60 members from across the Cayman Islands, who relentlessly campaign to bring attention to the banning of single-use plastics, mangrove deforestation and halting construction along the coastlines of the islands. In recent years Dejea has presented at COP26, became a young editor of magazine OH-WAKE, and attended COP28 representing the Caribbean and the Cayman Islands raising awareness about climate injustice in her region.
Discimus Foundation
England, Age 18
Gabrielle is a passionate young leader who is determined to improve the quality of computer education in rural communities worldwide. After a trip to Phnom Penh, she learnt that students had not seen or used a computer before, this sparked the idea to create Discimus Foundation which, to date, has raised over £30,000 and provided computer labs and technology classes to over 9,000 students, supported by 30+ volunteer teachers. Despite facing many challenges, Gabrielle has established partnerships between Discimus Foundation and six local charities to further enhance the technology education landscape in rural communities.
SWIFTmfi (Sustaining Women in Financial Turmoil)
Oman, Age 19
Recognising the barriers that traditional financial services pose to minority groups, Gobhanu was driven to create a solution. He founded Sustaining Women in Financial Turmoil (SWIFTmfi), a microfinance NGO dedicated to providing financial support to women in marginalised communities facing economic difficulties. Gobhanu's initiatives have provided microfinance funding for over 3,000 women in 77 countries, enabling them to establish sustainable businesses, achieve financial independence, and escape poverty. SWIFTmfi's global efforts have positively impacted over 74,000 lives. In 2023, SWIFTmfi launched SWIFTconnect, an innovative online tool for financial literacy, benefiting over 400 young individuals across Asia and Africa.
KidCaregivers
USA (New York), Age 16
Hailey founded KidCaregivers, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting young carers dealing with loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s. So far, she has 25,000 followers in 16 countries. Hailey created an online support group for kids to connect, share experiences, and feel they’re not alone. They also launched a programme pairing young volunteers and people with Alzheimer's for puzzle-solving sessions. Through this Hailey has mobilised more than 2,000 students and Girl Scouts. Together, they have distributed more than 136,000 jigsaw puzzles to over 5,000 care homes, reaching upwards of 500,000 people with Alzheimer’s, and raised over 60,000 dollars for Alzheimer’s research.
Mordi Ibe Foundation
Nigeria, Age 26
Despite adversity, in 2015 Joel founded the Mordi Ibe Foundation (MIF), Nigeria's only charity catering for LGBTQ+ and other vulnerable students to keep them in school, including young people experiencing period poverty. The foundation has so far impacted over 100,000 young people. Joel has been invited to speak at prestigious events and his human rights campaign was featured in the 2022 "Times Higher Education Awards". Having grown up experiencing bullying behaviour at school, Joel created Nigeria's first ever anti-bullying policy across schools in Delta state to combat children targeted for being different and further dropping out of school.
Orygen Global Youth Mental Health Advocacy Fellowship
Australia (Sydney), Age 26
Maddison is a mental health lived experience advocate committed to reducing the stigma around mental illness. A Master of Clinical Psychology/PhD candidate, she conducted research into improving the assessment of mental health in young people, particularly in Indigenous communities. Maddison is the co-founder of the Orygen Global Youth Mental Health Advocacy Fellowship, an online education and mentoring programme for youth advocates across the world. She has run workshops for over 5000 young people, spoken at multiple high-profile events across Australia, received Dalai Lama Peace Fellowship and was named in the top 100 most influential women in Australia.
Huesofthemind Foundation
India (Haryana), Age 24
Impacting over 50,000 lives through her nonprofit, the Huesofthemind Foundation, Manasi has created an empathetic community focused on mental health support. In collaboration with over 200 stakeholders, Huesofthemind has delivered innovative campaigns, projects and events globally. Manasi has personally delivered 100+ sessions globally to encourage an emphasis on mental health support. Her work during the COVID-19 pandemic was recognised and awarded by the former Health Secretary of India at the IHW Digital Health Awards. She has created an illustrated book to raise funds and increases awareness through social media, reaching more than 1.2 million viewers in the past four years.
Amplitude
Bangladesh, Age 20
Having grown up in a patriarchal society, Nafira is determined to abolish social taboos and discrimination in Bangladesh. She founded 'Amplitude' – a non-profit organisation led by the youths of Bangladesh who strive to eradicate discrimination by providing sustainable solutions. Despite facing many challenges, she has worked relentlessly for the underprivileged. With 30+ volunteers, Amplitude has quickly become a driving force for social justice and equality. She has led 30+ charity events helping marginalised people, including an art exhibition which showcased underprivileged artists, with profits used to buy art supplies for orphans.
SpunkGo
United Arab Emirates, Age 17
Netra set up her organisation SpunkGo in 2020, which brings together over 5,000 young girls from over 20 countries and from all walks of life to one community platform with the objective of using social media for good. Through SpunkGo, she organises free life skills webinars featuring inspiring women speakers, to impart knowledge to girls around the world. These members, who mostly come from underprivileged backgrounds, now have enormous opportunities of personal growth through all the chances to learn and network globally. Her work empowers and enables young people globally to be independent and knowledgeable.
Cancer Kids First
United States (Virginia), Age 18
After losing loved ones to cancer, Olivia felt empowered to take something negative and create something positive out of it. She founded Cancer Kids First, the world's largest youth-led organisation that works towards lessening the challenges paediatric cancer patients face. They have supported over 10,000 lives through diverse programmes. They host a variety of online events to unite 40,000 young people in fostering a supporting environment for patients. They have utilised social media to spread their reach, sharing their mission with over 4.4 million young people. As a result, their volunteers skyrocketed from 120 to 7000 in one week.
Forbidden Topics
Nigeria, Age 24
After being assaulted on campus, Oluwadamilola faced victim blaming, as is predominant in Nigeria. The trauma surrounding this experience inspired her into founding Forbidden Topics. Forbidden Topics works to destigmatise and demystify subjects deemed taboo in her society, and advocate for change across 30 countries. She is creating safe spaces for young women to share their experiences with gender-based violence without fear or shame and empowering them to use their voices to demand better. Oluwadamilola has also mentored 50 female students in professional development, providing them with advocacy tools to fight against gender inequality.
Eco-Network Global
Bangladesh, Age 26
Shamim is the founder of Eco-Network Global, one of the largest youth groups in multiple countries, which aims to ensure proper climate education through training programmes and awareness campaigns. The project has provided climate education to more than 50,000 young people, both online and offline and aims to plant 50,000 trees by 2030 to commemorate Bangladesh's 50th anniversary of independence. As well as advocacy, Shamim helps people build resilience to climate disasters. Due to the vulnerability of Bangladesh's coastal areas to cyclones and floods, he organised a fundraising event that benefited 350 high-risk households.
Paani Project
United States (Michigan), Age 25
Raised as a Pakistani American, Sonny understands the unique privileges he carries, compared to the daily struggles his family and community experience in Pakistan. At university, Sonny, along with other students, founded Paani Project; an organisation that tackles Pakistan’s lack of secure access to clean water. The project has raised over $3.1 million. To date, they have built over 9,300 water wells that serve more than 700,000 villagers. Paani Project has also donated medical supplies, distributed over one million meals, and built schools for refugees while galvanising thousands of youths globally through community-based awareness.
Girl Up Romania
Romania, Age 21
Sofia is the founder of Romania’s first youth-led gender equality organisation, Girl Up Romania, which has over 150 members across 50 cities. Her advocacy led to legislative achievements, including comprehensive sexual education, banning virginity testing, and improved measures against gender-based violence. In response to the Ukraine war, Sofia worked with fellow advocates across Eastern Europe to form a solidarity network, uniting efforts to support female refugees, and is now leading ground-breaking research at Stanford University, proposing new methods for understanding and prosecuting wartime sexual violence. Her work has led to policy changes, protests and community-building events.
The 93% Club
England, Age 27
When Sophie started at university, she faced unexpected hostility and prejudice due to her working-class background. Her background and social class mattered more than her academic achievements in the eyes of the other students. In response, she founded The 93% Club – a student society dedicated to making university a more inclusive space for state-educated students which has since grown into a nationwide movement. Despite the challenges she faced, Sophie is a leading figure in the social mobility space and has worked with countless organisations to advance the agenda and improve the poor state of social mobility in the UK.
Uday Electric
India (Delhi), Age 18
On average, rural India is left in the dark for a staggering ten hours every day. In 10th grade, when Uday began mentoring students in the slums of Bichpuri, he saw how frequent power cuts rendered children unable to study or even fulfil their basic needs. To tackle the power crisis, Uday developed his groundbreaking invention, the Outage Guard bulb. This low-cost solution is designed to provide uninterrupted lighting for up to ten hours during power cuts and has resulted in 950 families receiving stable and reliable power, boosting their educational and employment opportunities.
The Aspiring Medics
England, Age 23
Yusuf founded The Aspiring Medics (TAM) to help students from diverse backgrounds pursue careers in medicine. TAM offers digital courses, work experience and interview preparation. In the last 12 months alone, they have reached over 350,000 views on their website and YouTube. TAM has provided free access to courses for over 3,000 school students, and empowers aspiring medics through role models, webinars, and diverse student stories. The organisation has also raised over £50,000 from grants and awards including from the Oxford Foundry, Santander Universities and the UK Young Innovator Award.
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