Today, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, made a significant appearance on behalf of The Diana Award (TDA) at the Concordia Summit in New York. The annual summit is a bipartisan global affairs forum that brings together public and private sector leaders to address pressing challenges.
The Duke co-chaired the panel with TDA CEO Dr Tessie Ojo and engaged in heartfelt discussions with this year’s recipients, Christina Williams from Jamaica and Kiara Riyanti Hutapea Chan from Indonesia, about one of TDA’s priority areas: the mental health challenges facing young people. Their stories revealed the unique struggles they faced and the valuable lessons they learned along the way, inspiring others to reach their full potential and become the next generation of change-makers.
Cristina and Chiara were brave enough to share their experiences, highlighting the importance of young people’s mental health awareness and support. Their insights not only resonated with attendees, but also reinforced the idea that young people have the power to make a difference and uplift those around them, even in difficult times.
Today’s panel is the third of four significant events marking the 25th anniversary of the Diana Award, with the final celebration scheduled to take place at the upcoming Diana Award ceremony.
The discussions at the Concordia Summit highlighted the urgent need for support and understanding around mental health, and the Duke’s engagement, combined with the voices of incredible young leaders like Cristina and Chiara, strengthens our joint commitment to young people’s empowerment.
“The younger generation gives me hope. It is up to each and every one of us to find the courage to take action and create positive change… Now we need to listen to and act on the advice and vision of young people.” – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Reflecting on today’s impactful conversations reminds us that every young person has the potential to make a difference, and together we can foster environments where every young person feels valued, supported and inspired to thrive.
