Why it matters: The organisation supports young people across four counties stay away from knife crime while offering mental health support and business workshops.
DJ, a student at One Sixth Form College, collected his award from Dr Nikos Savvas, CEO of Eastern Education Group, at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral.
The teenager from Needham Market founded Better Youth UK single-handedly to help young people in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. His team provides monthly workshops inspiring youngsters to set up their own businesses alongside mental health support.
What they're saying: "When I was younger I was a bit of a troublemaker – but now my mission is to help others," said DJ, who came to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2022. "If any young person is struggling, I want Better Youth UK to be the first person they call."
The impact: DJ highlighted several success stories, including Bethany, who attended workshops and has now set up her own nail business, and Shade, who has established a hair business. He has also helped Benson create a fashion business focused on mental health called 'Inner Strength'.
"I've never got an award for any of the good things I've done. It's my first award. I'm thrilled to win something like this," DJ added.
His mother Anna attended the ceremony. "I'm a proud mum. What he is doing is amazing. Hopefully this award is the start of something big," she said.
Dr Nikos Savvas said: "It is always a pleasure to celebrate our students; across Eastern Education Group, we are proud to have more than 7,000 16–18-year-old students – each with their own story, their own journey, and their own achievements. Congratulations to DJ – he is an inspiration."
The bottom line: A teenager's grassroots anti-violence initiative shows how young people can drive meaningful change in their communities while building successful futures for their peers.
