Two young Malaysians recently brought great pride to our country as they were honoured with the prestigious 2023 Diana Award. The virtual award presentation ceremony was held on July 1, which marks the 62nd anniversary of Princess Diana’s birth.
Diana Award was established in memory of the beloved Princess of Wales, Diana. This remarkable award recognizes the most inspiring youth aged 9 to 25 from both the United Kingdom and around the globe who have gone above and beyond – creating positive change and engaging in social and humanitarian work.
This year, two Malaysians stood out and received this distinguished recognition. They are Nehemiah Aaron Nathan, and also Max Han. Here’s a bit of their background and their incredible humanitarian works:
1. Nehemiah Aaron Nathan, 25 years old
Nehemiah, who is a Tunku scholar studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering was one of the two Malaysians and among 200 youths worldwide presented with the accolade for social action or humanitarian efforts. He was nominated by his university lecturer and club advisor, to receive the award.
He was chosen to receive the award after he and his friends co-founded The EduLab – a social enterprise focused on enhancing English proficiency among Malaysian students, particularly those in the B40 community.
The EduLab developed the ‘Zing! English Card Game’, using a game-based learning approach to keep children engaged while improving their English skills.
According to The Diana Award, the ‘Zing! English Card Game’ has benefitted over 850 children across 15 government primary schools, including Chinese and Tamil schools, as well as six tuition centres within the Klang Valley.
Furthermore, The EduLab co-founded by Nehemiah has gained recognition from prestigious organizations such as McKinsey and Co and the U.S. Department of State.
2. Max Han, 19 years old
Meanwhile, Max Han a 19-year-old student at Yale University co-founded the non-profit organization ‘Youths United for Earth’ (YUFE). This remarkable initiative mobilises young Malaysians nationwide to take action on environmental issues through storytelling, grassroots projects, and policy advocacy.
YUFE strives to bring Southeast Asian environmentalism into the international spotlight. Max Han’s leadership has rallied over 70 youths, resulting in impactful campaigns that have reached an astounding 30,000 Malaysians.
Additionally, YUFE has successfully launched Malaysia’s largest sustainability mentorship program – connecting undergraduates with global environmental leaders, leading to internships, job opportunities, and the birth of eco-startups.
Max has also been a vocal advocate for environmental justice and the protection of environmental defenders’ rights in Southeast Asia, collaborating with ASEAN and the UN.
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