One more achievement has been added in the pages of history as an 18-year-old rickshaw driver from a village in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh is overwhelmed on meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace as this week she collected a prestigious women’s empowerment award in London.
Arti received the Amal Clooney Women’s Empowerment Award, named after the world famous human rights barrister, at the Prince’s Trust Awards in London followed by a meeting with the 75-year-old monarch on Wednesday.
She was awarded for encouraging and inspiring other young girls through her work with the government’s Pink E-rickshaw initiative, which offers safe transport for other women with a mission to drive change.
‘I take pride in being able to influence other girls who face similar challenges. This newfound independence has given me the chance to see the world in a different light. Now, I am able to fulfil not only my dreams but also those of my daughter’, said Arti.
She has a five-year-old daughter for whom she has bought some cake and a pair of shoes on her very first visit to London.
She shared, ‘It has been an amazing experience, meeting the King who was so nice and sent his namaste to my family back home too. He also listened carefully as I spoke about how much I love driving my e-rickshaw, which does not run on polluting diesel or petrol but one that I charge at home every night’.
Founded by King Charles, the Prince’s Trust International will now transform into the King’s Trust International as it will its work supporting young people across 20 countries through employment, education and enterprise programmes.
The Prince’s Trust women’s empowerment award recognises the global work of young women who have succeeded against the odds.
‘This year’s winner, Arti, is an inspirational example of someone whose work in a typically male arena makes women in her community safer. Arti is determined to create a world where her daughter will not face the obstacles that she has faced, and she is already making a difference through her example’, said Amal Clooney, the British activist-barrister after whom the award is named.
Comments