In this blog, you can read more about the recent winners of the Diana Award: LSE undergraduate student, Akhila Potluru, and alumni, Raihan Karim and Tanya Marwaha. The Diana Award was established in memory of Princess Diana and is awarded for going above and beyond in one’s daily life to create and sustain positive change.

The Diana Award is described as “the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts,” demonstrating the extent of dedication and ambition associated with this prestige. According to the Diana Award website, award recipients have been put forward by adults who know the young people in a professional capacity and recognised their efforts as a positive contribution to society. Through a rigorous nomination process, these nominators had to demonstrate the nominee’s impact in five key areas: Vision, Social Impact, Inspiring Others, Youth Leadership, and Service Journey.

Please join us in celebrating three members of the LSE community in receiving this esteemed award!

Akhila Potluru (BSc International Social and Public Policy and Economics), just finished her second year at the LSE and is about to enter her third and final year. Akhila was honored for her charitable work for water advocacy, and served as the President of UK Youth Parliament for Water, where she was dedicated to increasing youth participating in the UK water sector and decision-making processes.

In particular, Akhila has focused on water issues related to wastewater and sewage management. This has led to a variety of collaborations and exciting projects, as she described: “I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Water UK, Global Citizen, and Xylem to produce videos addressing various water challenges. We have even had some of this work shown at COP26! Recently, we are in the process of launching Rights for Rivers UK, a youth-led non-profit that aims to protect vulnerable rivers in the UK from harmful chemicals and sewage dumping by granting them legal protection far beyond what current regulations allow. We advocate for granting rivers environmental personhood, enabling local communities to take legal action against polluters.”

Akhila was inspired by this cause when she realised that “poor water management is not just an environmental challenge, but a severe public health issue.” In the future, she will be teaming up with Transition Exmouth as they seek legal protection for River Exe.

When asked how it felt to receive the award, Akhila wanted to express gratitude to her nominator and colleagues. She acknowledges that it is “very validating to learn that organisations like The Diana Award recognise our work and the impact it’s having, and its fantastic interacting with other awardees and learning about their incredible work!” Congratulations, Akhila!

Additionally, LSE alumnus Raihan Karim was also honored with the Diana Award for his efforts as co-founder and CEO of The Legacy Project, which aims to “empower and develop individuals from less socially mobile backgrounds to pioneer in their chosen fields” by breaking down information gaps, connecting students to opportunities, and promoting a culture of “perseverance and mental-resilience.”

A graduate in 2022 with a BSc in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, the LSE recognises his dedication to inclusivity and community engagement during his time at the university. Raihan was Vice President of the LSESU Islamic Society and involved with organising the LSESU Islamic Society Aspire Conference. 

Raihan reflects on what motivated him to do this charitable work, noting: “I am truly grateful and humbled by the blessing I have received. It seems like only a few weeks ago when I was contemplating the rapid passage of time. Back then, my siblings and I were huddled together in a cramped council estate, diligently studying for our exams. Today, I find myself in a position where I can inspire thousands of individuals to unlock their true potential, regardless of the obstacles they face.”

In the future, Raihan seeks to expand The Legacy Project internationally and establish collaborations with diverse grassroots organisations. Congratulations, Raihan!

Tanya Marwaha (BSc International Relations and Chinese), graduated in 2022 and was honored for her dedication as a “young mental health advocate who pioneered youth mental health awareness during the pandemic through the youth-led peer community, ‘Championing Youth Minds‘” which enables young people to help other young people care for their mental wellbeing. Through free online resources accessible to all schools, parents and youth, workshops and social media, Championing Youth Minds helps youth understand mental health and effective strategies that work best for them. 

The Diana Award also acknowledges the motivation behind Tanya’s efforts, noting:  “Despite living with Fibromyalgia and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Tanya works tirelessly to use her struggles to make a positive impact. She has created a safe space for young people, by young people, providing free resources and workshops, to support the mental wellbeing to a community of over 800 young people globally. She continues to inspire others to care for their mental health and now works with the Baton of Hope UK to spearhead their Education Charter and suicide awareness.”

Tanya’s charitable work extends back into her time at LSE, when she was a part of our Student Volunteering Ambassador group, a collaboration of students who are passionate about volunteering and want to share this with their peers.

Tanya herself writes: “To be recognised always surprises me as I don’t expect it, and to be awarded the Diana Award is something I’d never have even dreamt of.” Congratulations, Tanya!

You can read more about the terrific winners of the Diana Award and about the LSE honorees. 

If Akhila, Raihan, and Tanya have inspired you to volunteer, check out one of our other ongoing opportunities or book a one-to-one with David Coles, the Volunteer Centre Manager if you have more questions. And why not follow us on Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date with our events and opportunities and read our blog for more volunteering tips and stories.Recognising the Diana Award Winners!