Hyderabad girl Diya Loka wins The Diana Award for 2024

The award is supported by The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex, and is considered one of the highest accolades a young person can receive

Hyderabad: Diya Loka, a passionate environmentalist and founder of E-Cycl, has been honoured with The Diana Award for 2024 which recognizes young people who demonstrate exceptional social action and humanitarian work, and is named in memory of Princess Diana.

The award is supported by The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex, and is considered one of the highest accolades a young person can receive.

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Diya (17) has dedicated herself to tackling e-waste, a significant environmental threat, by initiating local and global awareness drives.

Starting at the age of 14, she founded E-Cycl, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and collecting electronic waste, particularly in Hyderabad.

She has successfully collected over 10,000 kg of e-waste, mentored over 5,000 individuals, and expanded E-Cycl into a global movement with hundreds of young changemakers involved.

“I am honoured to receive the Diana Award from Prince Harry and Prince William, and I thank the Diana Award team for their immense support. It is a significant achievement for E-Cycl, as it will help us advocate for our cause and explore new ways to contribute to cleaning up our community, improving the wellness of sanitation workers, and supporting accessible education and awareness in India,” says Diya.

Diya’s work has garnered national recognition, securing sponsorships from organisations such as Meta, WSJ, and SOIF Futures. Her passion for sustainability also led her to contribute to projects and research at renowned institutions like CIE, IIIT, and Recykal, where she worked on advocacy and digital marketing for environmental causes.