The Diana Award, the greatest honor a young person may receive for social action or humanitarian endeavors, has been given to Maureen Montana, a 26-year-old from Paraguay.
The Award was created to honor Diana, Princess of Wales, and is sponsored by both of her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex. It is given out by the charity of the same name.
In Paraguay, where Maureen was raised, there were societal inequalities that prevented smart and talented students from realizing their potential.
Through the “Aikumby Laboratory” project, Maureen advocates for the rights of the Paraguayan children and adolescents who are gifted but invisible.
By leading seminars for parents, teenagers, and adults on talent development, her work has so far benefited more than 20 families, people, and institutions.
Through family and educational support, she educated a group of professionals in the identification, evaluation, and diagnosis of giftedness, a task that has transformed Paraguayan lives for more than a year.
The Diana Award’s CEO, Tessy Ojo CBE, says:
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the latest Diana Award winners from the UK and around the globe who are leading change in their generation.
It is especially moving at this time, 25 years after Princess Diana passed away.
We are confident that by winning this honor, they will encourage other young people to become active members of their communities.