The founder of South Africa's Save a Fishie wins a Diana Award after 530 cleanups and 65 tonnes of litter

Zoë Prinsloo, founder of the South African cleanup group Save a Fishie, has been named a 2026 Diana Award recipient, Good Things Guy reported on 5 November. She is the only South African among the 200 young people honored worldwide this year.

Started in 2018, with thousands of volunteers since

Prinsloo founded Save a Fishie in 2018 to tackle pollution by getting communities and young people to look after their own environment. The organization has since held more than 530 clean-up events and removed over 65 tonnes of litter, with thousands of volunteers taking part. It has also led nationwide Coast 2 Coast clean-up campaigns and runs education programs in schools, showing learners how their actions affect oceans and waterways.

“Through Save a Fishie, I've always believed that even the smallest voices can make the biggest waves.” — Zoë Prinsloo

An award in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales

The Diana Award is the only charity set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, according to the report. It was founded on her belief that young people have the power to change their community, their country and the world, and its recipients are young people who have shown they can inspire others to serve their communities and create lasting change.

“To bring this recognition home to South Africa, and to represent our country, our oceans and the incredible work being done to protect marine life, is something I'll never take for granted,” Prinsloo said.

Credit shared with the volunteers

Prinsloo said the recognition also belongs to everyone who supported the mission and helped “turn little ripples into bigger waves.” Saving the oceans is not a one-person mission, she said: “It's going to take all of us.” The report did not give her age or say what the group plans next. More ocean stories are collected under marine conservation.