Sarah Callista Ng and Arissa Jemaima Ikram from Kuala Lumpur, as well as Ho Wei Liang from Johor Bahru, were chosen out of thousands of applicants across the 56 Commonwealth nations. Only 100 young people aged between 18 and 35 ultimately received the honour.
The award commemorates what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday and recognises young leaders who are driving meaningful change in areas such as education, health, sustainability and inclusion.
Ng is the founder of Hope2Kids, a youth-led non-profit organisation supporting underprivileged children, and is also the co-president of the Charisma Movement, a youth-led volunteerism organisation.
In addition, she launched the “Letters of Hope” initiative, which mobilised volunteers from more than 11 countries to send handwritten encouragement to children.
The 19-year-old describes the recognition as deeply meaningful, not just for herself but for the team behind her work.
“Knowing that the judges believed in my cause means a lot,” she told FMT Lifestyle. “Although this was given as an individual award, it recognises the work my team and I have done together.”
Arissa, meanwhile, is the founder and executive director of Doctors on Ground, a community healthcare organisation focused on making care more accessible and sustainable.
Since 2020, she has led more than 300 deployments and initiatives aimed at strengthening grassroots healthcare systems.
For her, the recognition is both humbling and affirming. “I feel a lot of gratitude, and I hope this helps open more doors to partnerships, resources and visibility for the work we’ve been doing,” the 29-year-old said.
A passionate technologist, Ho’s work focuses on artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability and accessible STEM education. He is a board member of the Global Youth AI Advisory Body and has provided youth perspectives and input for the United Nations on AI governance.
For the 27-year-old, who is also the sole Malaysian recipient of the 2024 Diana Award, this latest accolade strengthens his commitment to using technology for social good.
“This award is both an honour and a responsibility,” he said. “It motivates me to continue our efforts in tech and sustainability while creating more opportunities for young people to make positive changes in society.”
The award ceremony will take place at St James’s Palace in London next month. While Ho and Ng will attend, Arissa will have to give it a miss as she is completing her master’s degree in global public health and social justice.
The trio expressed that, while the award is a great honour, what is more important is the work they are doing and the people they are able to serve.
They also hope the recognition will inspire more young Malaysians to believe that meaningful change can begin with small, consistent acts within their own communities.
Learn more about the Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust Young Leaders Award here.