A young man with a big heart for slum residents was on Wednesday feted with a global award from Queen Elizabeth in London on Tuesday.
Douglas received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award at Buckingham Palace for his recognition for his role in reducing illiteracy and poverty eradication in his community.
He is the pioneer of Oasis Mathare, a community-based group working to empower young people from Mathare slums in Nairobi.
Through his community-based organization, Mwangi has been able to teach practical ICT skills which have been of greater help as many people have found employment while others were able to start their own enterprises.
The project has a library which provides young people with a quiet, safe place to study and a community center with a space for children from the area to come and play.
Douglas Mwangi receiving the award from the Queen of England. [Photo/cardof.net]
The global award includes training at the prestigious University of Cambridge and a £200,000 (Ksh.26million) Legacy Fund.
Mwangi said that the award portrayed world's confidence it has to the young people living in slums across the country.
“I am overjoyed to be part of a group of phenomenal young men and women who are transforming the lives of people in their communities,” he stated.
Douglas was among 53 selected young leaders across the Commonwealth countries in the world.