A Young person from Kenya was honored with the Diana Award for going above and beyond in their daily life to create and sustain positive change.
Samuel mburu kairu, aged 22 , from kenya has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts – The Diana Award.
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, HRH The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex.
Samuel, a third-year Sociology and Gender student at Kenyatta University, is a passionate youth leader and activist. As chair of the ‘Young Leaders Association’ (YOLA), he empowers youth through initiatives like the Mawega Avocado Initiative, promoting sustainable farming, biodiversity, and economic empowerment in rural Kenya. Samuel has organised impactful events, including the Kiambu Youth Development Conference, attended by over 1,200 youth, and tree-planting drives with other partners contributing to a goal of 15 billion trees by 2032. With a focus on education, mental health, and entrepreneurship, Samuel leverages media and partnerships to inspire youth and drive sustainable change in communities.
Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, CEO of The Diana Award, had this to say:
“We warmly congratulate our new Diana Award Recipients from across the world who are dedicating their time to making positive change. These young people demonstrate that young people have the power to change the world; a belief also held by Diana Princess of Wales. We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities.”
HOW DO YOU RECEIVE A DIANA AWARD?
Diana Award Recipients have been nominated by adults who know the young people in a professional capacity and want to recognise their efforts to make a positive contribution to society. All Diana Award Recipients have dedicated a minimum of 12 months to leading positive social change through a variety of activities from campaigning and educating, to fundraising to delivering services.
In 2024, there was over 80 volunteers representing over 30 countries, who came together in panels, read through and marked each nomination against five key criteria: vision, social impact, inspiring others, youth leadership, and social action journey. Each judging panel consisted of at least three judges who understand the value of young people, including one young person representative. The panels have an important main purpose: to determine which nominations will receive the Diana Award.
This year The Diana Award received over 1700 nomination submissions, making this the most competitive year yet.
About The Diana Award:
The charity fosters, develops and inspires positive change in the lives of young people through four key programmes which include a mentoring programme for young people at risk, a youth-led anti-bullying ambassadors campaign, a collaborative Changemakers programme that aims to reimagine mental health support for young people from racialised communities and a prestigious award which publicly recognises young social activists – the Diana Award.
Media spokesperson:
Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive, The Diana Award
Tessy is a passionate and practical campaigner who has gained an international reputation for fostering positive change in the lives of young people and the impact it has on communities around them. At the heart of her work is the belief that with the right support and investment, young people are the best instigators for achieving real, sustainable change in their lives, their communities, and the lives of their peers.
On his part, Samuel Mburu had the following to say after receiving the award:
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to God for being awarded the prestigious Princess Diana Award, the highest recognition for young individuals aged 9-25 making a significant impact through social action and humanitarian work. Being placed on the Roll of Honour is a profound milestone, marking my commitment to creating positive change in the world 🌍.
A heartfelt thank you to HRH Prince William for his kind congratulations and to the Young Leaders Association for their unwavering support in making this dream a reality. This award is not just a celebration of individual effort but a continuation of Princess Diana’s inspiring legacy of compassion, service, and empowerment of the youth. Together, let’s ensure her vision lives on.
To all young changemakers out there, remember that our actions, no matter how small, have the power to transform lives. This award is for all of us striving to make the world a better place.”
