Tarini Ramchandani of Grade X, from India has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or 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 Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex. Starting at the age of ten, Tarini has worked consistently to make a positive difference in the lives of waste pickers in India. She has created awareness regarding waste management, recycled waste, and raised funds for waste pickers’ children’s education. She organizes waste collection drives, conducts awareness campaigns, and develops sustainable personal hygiene products, as well as conducting ‘red dot’ campaigns to protect waste pickers by clearly marking menstrual waste. Her efforts have diverted over 9,000 kg of waste from landfills, funded scholarships, and sensitized communities. Tarini’s work inspires others, earning recognition from school authorities, the Municipal Commissioner and media coverage.
