Lella's Diana Award

Rapid-Fire Q&A

What does Diana, Princess of Wales mean to you?

Diana was unapologetically herself, she led from her heart and not from her head, challenging the status quo and ardently pushing for change and the pursuit of equity and acting as a 'positive influencer', all with no expectation of reward. Diana felt it was vital the monarchy keeps in touch with the people and I respect that wholeheartedly.

How does it feel to receive the Diana Award?


​Having accepted this prestigious honour, it has given me a chance to reflect on what has been an anomalous year. I am proud to have found positivity at an unjust time in an unjust world​, and remain determined to continue ​my voluntary work ​to campaign for youth inclusion, equity of access in our digital-first tomorrow and continue Diana's legacy to ensure that all young people are supported to make sure they reach their full potential​.

What advice would you give to a future young change_maker?

Find Your Purpose & Passion. Be Brave. Not Perfect. Be Unapologetically Yourself.

Example Press Release

Outstanding Young Hero in Yorkshire Receives Award in Memory of Princess Diana

Young hero in Harrogate is honoured with The Diana Award for going above and beyond in their daily life to create and sustain positive change.

Lella Violet Halloum, aged 16, has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action and humanitarian efforts – The Diana Award.

Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Award is given out by the charity of the same name and has the support of both her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex.

Lella bridges the digital skills and gender gap through uniting industry and classroom. She’s an avid UN and IBM speaker. She’s the youngest IBM Z Champion in its history and founded zStudents, a program to motivate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. She created a committee of young, global technologists united by a desire to create content that’s for, with and by students. Following the catastrophic event in Lebanon, Lella founded Al-Wasl.Connect, an open-source hub to coordinate donations and distribute humanitarian aid. Lella is paving the way for other youth to stand up loud and proud and become changemakers.

Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award, says:

“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.”

WHAT IS THE NOMINATION PROCESS?

Award recipients have been put forward by adults who know the young people in a professional capacity and recognised their efforts as a positive contribution to society. Through a rigorous nomination process, these nominators had to demonstrate the nominee’s impact in five key areas: Vision, Social Impact, Inspiring Others, Youth Leadership, and Service Journey.

Nominations are judged using the Criteria Guide and Scoring Guide which have been created to measure quality of youth social action. This is special because young people do not work towards the award, rather they demonstrate their sutiability through their actions, without any expectation of reward.