Aadvik Jain, an 18-year-old from Delhi, India, has received the Diana Award, an international honor recognizing young changemakers aged 16 to 25. The award was announced on November 4 at a virtual ceremony, with 198 young people from 44 countries receiving recognition this year. India represented a significant portion of the honorees, accounting for 49 of the recipients.
Jain’s activism began during his time in tenth grade when he witnessed a close female friend experience severe menstrual pain that was not being taken seriously by her family and school. After his mother and a teacher intervened, the friend was eventually diagnosed with PCOS and underwent evaluation for endometriosis. This experience prompted Jain to consider how differently his family had responded to his own minor injury, sparking his awareness of the stigma surrounding menstruation in his community.
In 2024, Jain established Team Period with three close friends as a response to this widespread stigma. The organization works through multiple approaches including workshops, street performances, and awareness campaigns to challenge cultural attitudes around menstruation. Additionally, the group focuses on improving access to menstrual pads and products for those in need. Jain has utilized his school’s Youth Power program, which encourages student teams to identify social causes and create community change initiatives.
Now 18 years old, Jain is preparing to pursue further education in medicine and public health at the University of Bologna in Italy beginning in February. His work with Team Period represents one of several notable social initiatives among this year’s Diana Award recipients, which include innovations in workplace safety, air quality improvement, and animal welfare support.
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