PANAJI
Dubai Goan twins Troy and Rachel Dias were each recognised with the prestigious Karmaveer Chakra Bronze Award at a ceremony held at The Millenium School, Faridabad, New Delhi, on November 26.
Presented by iCONGO in collaboration with the United Nations, the awards celebrate individuals who demonstrate sustained, positive action and create tangible community impact.
Troy Dias was honoured for his strong commitment to environmental stewardship and raising climate awareness among children.
He is an active member of the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) and a Junior Green Ambassador for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) UAE.
Troy’s campaign includes organising plastic can and paper recycling drives, participating in large-scale clean-up campaigns and tree-planting events, leading climate education workshops to inspire young environmental citizens.
Beyond recycling, Troy champions sustainability by collecting and redistributing pre-loved clothes and toys to extend their lifecycle.
“I felt happy and incredibly proud to receive the Karmaveer Bronze Award. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many recipients, all committed to different ways of supporting environmental causes and sustainability,” said Troy.
“The event is special to me because I received my award alongside my sister, transforming the individual achievement into a cherished family celebration of shared values and commitment.” “When I came down from the stage, some people from the audience”strangers”came forward to me and said they would like to work together to make a bigger difference. That truly touched me. It showed me the power of this movement goes far beyond a medal; it's about forming partnerships. In 2026, I want to be more active and more impactful with everything I do.”
Rachel received the award for her flagship initiative ‘Books for All’, a grass roots literacy movement focused on ensuring all children have access to books and dedicated reading spaces.
The project started small but has grown significantly, leading to the distribution of thousands of books, the creation of mini-libraries, and the hosting of storytelling circles in under-resourced communities.
Rachel has been recognised for bringing the joy of reading to life and inspiring schools to establish reading corners. These initiatives have reached children across schools and community centres such as M-Kids in Mauritius, Saigon Children’s Charity in Vietnam, the Goa Sudharop NGO (USA/Goa), the Diocesan Society of Education, Goa, and Sputnik Home in Sri Lanka.
“My initial feeling upon receiving the Karmaveer Bronze Award was one of immense pride. However, this emotion was quickly surpassed by how incredibly touched I was when the privilege of pinning the medal was given directly to the school's support staff,” said Rachel.
“It solidified my belief that this honour celebrates the collective effort and the entire team instrumental in driving positive change.”
“The event itself was humbling; with recipients aged 7 to 77, I realised that even as a 10-year-old striving to contribute, there are even younger champions doing great work. I leave the ceremony filled with deep gratitude for this recognition and for the nurturing environment and opportunities I've been given to thrive in Dubai.”
Incidentally, Rachel and Troy are award-winning swimmers who hail from Margao and are presently studying in a British school in Dubai.
