UAE School Student Receives Legacy Award in Memory of Diana, the Late Princess of Wales

Netra Venkatesh, a student of Dubai International Academy in the UAE, is one of just twenty people across the world presented with The Legacy Award at a special award ceremony in London on 14 March 2024. The Legacy Award marks The Diana Award's 25th Anniversary - a charity set up in memory of Diana, the late Princess of Wales and her belief in the power of young people to change the world

Netra, age 17, has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts.

Prince William, Prince of Wales meets Netra Venkatesh as he attends The Diana Legacy Awards

Established in memory of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, the Award has the support of both her sons, HRH The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. 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. 

On this occasion Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, CEO of The Diana Award, said, “As we mark the start of our 25^th 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. Their compassion, determination and agency to make positive change today and in the years ahead is immense.”

Hitesh Bhagat, Principal at Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills, Dubai, UAE, added, “We at Dubai international Academy (DIA) are extremely proud to see Netra Venkatesh receive this global recognition as part of the 25^th year anniversary of the Princess Diana awards. Netra who has been with DIA her whole school life is a perfect example of a student who has demonstrated the school’s values of Achievement, Innovation and Responsibility. We wish our special student the best as she moves to RICE University later this year and am sure she will continue her journey of contribution and achievement.“

Netra’s comments on winning this prestigious award were, “It was an honour to receive this award from Prince William and Harry today. I thank the Diana Award team for the useful workshop they held for the awardees ahead of the awards ceremony. I am most happy for the further recognition this brings to the 5000plus girls of SpunkGo. This award will go a long way to further our cause of empowering girls across the developing world via education.”