(CMR) Caymanian Dejea Lyons was presented with the Princess Diana Legacy Award last week for her outstanding work as an environmental activist and advocate.
“I am so excited to announce that I have received the Princess Diana Legacy Award for my work in environmental activism and advocacy. To make this even more special, I received the award from HRH The Prince of Wales in person and was congratulated via video by the Duke of Sussex. This is a moment I will never forget! I am elated to once again represent my country amongst 19 other incredible young change-makers,” Lyons wrote on social media following the awards ceremony on Thursday.
Lyons has dedicated herself to working for a better future for her home, the Cayman Islands, with the hope of creating a future free of environmental destruction.
In 2021, Lyons was invited to represent Cayman as the youth speaker for the territories at ‘COP26’ in Glasgow. That same year, Dejea became one of six young editors of the global magazine OH-WAKE, where she has been able to create awareness about the importance of our oceans through written pieces such as poems and interviews.
In 2023, Lyons was accepted into the Caribbean Climate Justice Academy hosted by Island Innovation, where she had the opportunity to attend COP28 in Dubai and represent the Caribbean and the Cayman Islands once more, where she brought awareness about climate injustice in her region.
Lyons, a past student of Cayman International School, is a confident leader, go-getter, and opportunity seeker. Her work is changing how young people are taking action in their communities to support their future for the better.
On Thursday, 14 March, both The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, honored and met with twenty exceptional young people from across the world. The Legacy Award was set up in memory of Diana, the late Princess of Wales.
The Legacy Award, presented every two years, is the most prestigious accolade a young person can receive for their social action or humanitarian work.
This year’s Legacy Award marks the start of The Diana Award’s 25th Anniversary year – a charity set up in memory of Diana, the late Princess of Wales and her belief that young people have the power to change the world.
All the Legacy Award recipients – who come from the UK, USA, Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, UAE, Oman, Romania, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Australia – have had a huge impact on society.
“This evening’s Legacy Award is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary year of The Diana Award, a charity set up to reflect my mother’s belief that young people can change the world,” Prince William said at the ward ceremony in London.
“I know that she would have been honoured to see a charity in her name doing such inspirational work to uplift young people from all corners of the globe,” he added.
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