Diya Loka, a 17-year-old environmentalist from Hyderabad, has been honoured with the prestigious Diana Award for 2024. Named in memory of Princess Diana and supported by The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex, the award recognizes exceptional young leaders making a positive impact on society.
Diya, the founder of E-Cycl, has been working to combat the growing problem of electronic waste since she was 14. Her initiative raises awareness about e-waste and organizes collection drives. To date, E-Cycl has gathered over 10,000 kilograms of e-waste and inspired thousands globally. Diya has mentored more than 5,000 individuals, turning E-Cycl into a global movement involving hundreds of young changemakers.
Expressing her gratitude, Diya said, “Receiving the Diana Award is a great honour. It motivates me to amplify my work in sustainability and connect with others who share the same passion. This recognition will help us take E-Cycl further, improving community cleanliness, supporting sanitation workers, and raising awareness about e-waste.”
Diya’s efforts have earned support from organizations like Meta and WSJ. She has also collaborated on environmental projects with institutions such as IIIT and Recykal, focusing on advocacy and digital marketing.
Her work serves as an inspiration, proving that young people can lead impactful change. Diya’s story is a call to action for everyone to contribute to solving the climate crisis.