World news story

APS attack survivor Ahmad Nawaz awarded Points of Light Award

He was recognised for his work as an anti-radicalisation youth activist.

From:
British High Commission Islamabad
Published
18 January 2019
APS attack survivor Ahmad Nawaz awarded Points of Light Award

APS attack survivor Ahmad Nawaz awarded Points of Light Award

Ahmad Nawaz, who survived the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in 2014, has become the third Pakistani to be awarded a Point of Light.

Mr Nawaz has addressed thousands of students at various schools in the UK and at events organised by the United Nations, encouraging communities to unite and fight extremism together.

British PM Theresa May commented his work in a letter:

The work that you do to educate young people about extremism and radicalisation is invaluable – and the fact that it comes from your own experience is testament to your incredible personal strength and resolve. Your recent appointment to the National Counter Extremism Advisory board demonstrates the positive impact of your work. You should feel tremendously proud and I wish you the very best with your continued endeavours.

Mr Ahmad Nawaz said:

I am deeply honoured to be recognised as a ‘Point of Light’ by the Prime Minister. It has propelled me to do more of the positive work that I do for the society. I would like to encourage other young people to do the same in order to have a society free of extremism and violence.

Ahmad Nawaz is working with the Home Office and has recently been appointed a member of National Counter Extremism Advisory board. He is also a winner of the No2H8 Crime Young Upstander Award for his courage and conviction.

Further information

About the Points of Light award

  1. The Points of Light awards recognise outstanding volunteers every day of the week – people whose service is making a difference in their communities and whose story can inspire others to creative innovative solutions to social challenges in their own communities and beyond.

  2. Points of Light began in America under President George H. W. Bush and today over 6,000 US Points of Light have been recognised. The scheme has the support of all living US Presidents.

  3. Since 2014 the UK Prime Minister has been recognising a daily Point of Light from the UK, with more than 900 volunteers now recognised.

  4. Commonwealth Points of Light is a continuation of this programme with a special series of awards recognising inspirational volunteers throughout the Commonwealth, coinciding with the UK being the Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth for the next two years. One volunteer from each of the 53 Commonwealth countries was recognised in the days leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018. Following the success of this programme, Her Majesty The Queen decided to continue this work and award one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda in 2020.

  5. More information, including details of other Commonwealth Points of Light recipients, can be found on the website: www.pointsoflight.gov.uk

For updates on the British High Commission and the Chevening Programme, please follow our social media channels:

Contact
British High Commission
Islamabad
tel. 0300 500 5306

Published 18 January 2019