University of Warwick: Warwick Economics student honoured with prestigious Diana Award
Warwick undergraduate Sana Mittar, 19, from New Delhi has received a prestigious Diana Award in recognition of her work supporting vulnerable communities in India during the pandemic.
Established in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, The Diana Award scheme recognises young people between 9 and 25 who are going above and beyond in their daily life to create and sustain positive change through social action or humanitarian work.
Sana, who is in the first year of her Economics, Politics and International Studies course at Warwick, is the founder and president of the Global Volunteers Action Network, a youth-led non-profit network which aims to inspire, connect and mobilise volunteers in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Sana coordinated a digital campaign and worked with 150 volunteers to fundraise ₹500,000 for vulnerable communities. Sana has also raised funds for 40 disadvantaged children to buy mobile phones, so they could continue learning from home during coronavirus lockdowns.
Commenting on becoming a Diana Award recipient, Sana said: “This means so much to me, as my efforts have truly been recognised at a world scale. I am very grateful to have been recognised in the memory of Princess Diana, the epitome of selfless community service.”
Sana received her award during a virtual award ceremony held on 28 June 2021, just a few days before what would have been Diana, Princess of Wales’ 60th Birthday. The event showcased the work of young people during the Covid pandemic and included a message from the Duke of Sussex. Addressing all the 2021 winners, the Duke said: “Thank you for inspiring us with your brilliance, your determination and your compassion. Your actions hold the potential to leave a life-changing impact. You are putting the ‘do’s’ behind the ‘say’s’, and this is the personification of our mother’s legacy.”
Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award, said: “We congratulate all our new Diana Award recipients from the UK and all over the globe who are changemakers for their generation. We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities and begin their own journey as active citizens. For over twenty years The Diana Award has valued and invested in young people encouraging them to continue to make positive change in their communities and lives of others.”