The Diana Award 2022, Princess of Wales, still motivates young people all across the world to make positive changes in their lives nearly two decades after her passing. Five young Pakistanis were among the deserving recipients of the coveted Diana Award this year.

The awardees include – Faryal Ashfaq, Aamir Khoso, Alizey, Moazzam, Ramna.

The prize, which was created in Diana’s honour, is regarded as the “highest recognition” a young person may get for civic engagement or humanitarian work.

Pakistani Youngsters Win Prestigious Diana Award

Ramna Saeed

Ramna was brought up in a male-dominated society. She has seen women suffering under patriarchal oppression inside and outside their homes. After seeing a documentary on the honour killing of a girl from her city in 2016. She dedicated herself to pursuing a career in media and journalism to give a voice to the voiceless. As well as shining a light on the issues, she has also set up mentoring sessions for the victims and survivors of domestic abuse and bullying and helped create safe spaces for girls and women in her community to speak about sexual harassment and bullying they experience on a day-to-day basis. 

Faryal Ashfaq

Faryal Ashfaq, is honoured with The Diana Award 2022 for going above and beyond in her life to create and sustain positive change. She has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts. Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Award is given out by the charity of the same name and has the support of both her sons. The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, and The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry.

Mohammad Aamir Khoso

Amir has been working in underprivileged areas of Pakistan, where he has provided food to 700 families. During the pandemic, installed water pumps in arid regions, and risked his life during lockdown to provide sewing machines to underprivileged women. Enabling them to earn a sustainable livelihood. Despite this, he remains committed to supporting his community and inspiring others to do the same.

Alizey Khan

In 2016, Alizey established the ‘Ruhil Foundation’ to combat food poverty, delivering 5,500 monthly food parcels and 10,000 meals. Alizey soon realised the multidimensional nature of poverty and felt providing food alone wasn’t enough to break the cycle. She pivoted to also focus on education and shelter, raising over $150,000. As well as financing 200 weddings, distributing 600 sanitary pads, providing 1,100 blankets in winter, disbursing 1,000 interest-free emergency loans and providing monthly stipends to 25 transgender people and widows. She is also helping to provide education to 150 children of sex workers. And is an honorary fund-raising director for Begum Inayat Welfare Society, an orphanage which houses 77 children. 

Moazzam Ali

As a young child, Moazzam was lucky enough to attend an excellent private school. But that all changed when his family experienced a huge financial crisis. Experiencing the stark difference between the best and the rest of educational opportunities became his inspiration to build a school. That would help all children get a good quality education regardless of their financial status. Through ‘The Walkaway School’, Moazzam has provided early childhood education to over 3,000 children, sent over 1,400 children to schools for sustainable education on scholarships. He has recently opened multiple schools for over 1,500 children in remote villages near the Indo-Pak border.