Diana Award: First Pakistan woman bags prestigious accolade

Aleena Azhar has helped the poor since she was 11 years old

LAHORE: Nearly two decades after her death, Diana, Princess of Wales, continues to inspire positive change in the lives of young people around the world. One such person is Aleena Azhar, who has become the first Pakistani woman to receive The Diana Award for her humanitarian efforts.

Like Diana, Aleena Azhar, too, is compassionate about the promotion of human welfare. A resident of Lahore’s Johar Town, the 20-year-old granddaughter of former Lahore High Court chief justice Khawaja Sharif, has been serving the poor, needy and the out casters since she was 11.

“I got the chance to participate in social activities very early in my life. I collected donations for the flood victims when I was very young,” the young philanthropist said. Described as, ‘the most prestigious honour a young person aged 9-25 can receive for their social action or humanitarian work’, The Diana Award was set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.

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For Azhar, there is no stopping. She has also established an NGO to help senior citizens and those living in old homes. “The NGO helps senior citizens in old age homes, and assists people in slum areas, specifically women,” she said.  Through the charity organization, Azhar is also helping members of the transgender community. “We have provided sewing machines to helpless transgender persons living in shelters, only because we want them to give up begging,” the award winner said.

Her mother, Fatima, believes her daughter has always been a philanthropist at heart. “Aleena has always been interested in social work. I only encouraged her and helped her with finances,” she said. Apart from her passion for philanthropy, Azhar is also a patriot. “I want to do so much more for the country,” she said.

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With big plans for life, the young humanitarian will soon be moving to Turkey for higher education. Since her tragic death in 1997, the charity set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales has focused on young people and change. The charity’s website claims the annual award is the longest running accolade for young people and it is given to individuals and groups through a retrospective nomination process only.

Other recipients from Pakistan include Nawaz Ahmed, a survivor of the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2019.