UAE teen wins International Children’s Peace Prize

Kehkashan Basu was awarded the International Children's Peace Prize by Nobel Peace laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus in the Ridderzaal (Knight Hall) in the Hague. Rick Nederstigt

DUBAI // A teenager from the UAE was been chosen as the winner of this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize for her work to protect the environment.

Kehkashan Basu, a pupil at Deira International School in Dubai, was selected from 120 entries by the international children’s rights organisation KidsRights, which launched the annual competition in 2005.

“I feel amazing, because winning this prize doesn’t only give a lot of positivity, but it motivates me to continue to do my work,” said the 16-year-old Indian expatriate, who was born and raised in Dubai. “It’s also motivation for other children across the world that age has nothing to do with capability, and whatever we want to achieve, we can.”

When she was 8, Ms Basu organised a campaign in her Dubai neighbourhood to raise awareness on the importance of recycling waste. In 2012, she founded Green Hope, which runs waste-collection, beach-cleaning and awareness-raising campaign and is currently active in 10 countries with more than 1,000 volunteers.

Basu said that she knew that the competition would be tough, but that did not stop her from believing in herself.

“There are so many young people, who are doing amazing work,” she said. “The work that I do is not for a particular award, but I did think that if I won the award, I’d be a role model for other young people and children in the world to continue to do their work and it will raise awareness.”

The pupil also said that being raised in Dubai gave her the opportunity to realise her dreams and take it to another level.

“If I wasn’t born and raised in Dubai, then I wouldn’t have been able to do most of the work I have been doing,” she said. “It’s so culturally diverse, and I have been able to interact with people from all over the world.

“I learnt so much being raised in Dubai, and the support I’ve received from the entire country is amazing.”

Basu says there is more to be done, and she will continue to try to expand Green Hope by involving more youth from around the world.

Her mother, Swati Basu, said she was happy her daughter was having a positive effect on young people.

“I think it gives a lot of hope for the future generations,” she said. “If you work hard and with a lot of honesty, you are able to make a difference.

“I would always want Kehkashan to grow up as a good human being, who has an affect on the life of others.”

Ellen Vroonhof, programme manager for KidsRights, said described Ms Basu as being “passionate and extremely driven.”

“She also has a lot of knowledge on the environment and what she wants to do,” she said.