RASC News Agency: The Diana Award has honored four exceptional Afghanistani youths among its 2023 recipients, celebrating their inspirational contributions to education, social change, and community empowerment. These individuals Rubina Azizi, Mozhda Akbari, Mosawer Faiz, and Abdul Majid Barakzai were recognized on Thursday, December 5, when the award committee unveiled the list of approximately 200 winners from around the globe.
Rubina Azizi, a 19-year-old advocate for education rights residing in Germany, was commended for her tireless efforts. According to the Diana Award website, Rubina, who was forced to abandon her own education, founded the international online platform “Girls on the Path of Change” in April 2023. Through this initiative, she has raised awareness about the plight of Afghanistani girls, amplifying their voices and advocating against the closure of schools and universities in Afghanistan.
Mozhda Akbari, another awardee, is an Afghanistani refugee based in Canada and a prominent advocate for girls’ education. The Diana Award website praised her leadership of “Green Code Afghanistan,” an initiative that has donated over 1,500 books and established a library in Kabul named “Green Hope,” housing nearly 1,000 books. Mozhda has focused her efforts on empowering girls to overcome societal challenges, develop leadership skills, and foster meaningful connections within their communities.
Mosawer Faiz, an education activist currently living in Germany, was also among the honorees. In 2023, he founded the “NSDA Foundation”, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting education as a fundamental human right and creating educational opportunities for girls in underserved communities. Abdul Majid Barakzai was recognized as a social change activist whose work has inspired and uplifted countless individuals.
The Diana Award, established in 1999 in memory of Princess Diana, is one of the most prestigious global honors for young leaders. Presented annually by the Diana Award Foundation, it celebrates individuals under the age of 25 who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to creating positive change in their communities.
