Willesden teenager wins Princess Diana award
Nihal Said has won a Diana Award - Credit: Archant
Nihal Saib, 19, was recognised for ‘taking the time to improve the lives of others’
Princess Diana died in 1997 age 36 (pic credit: PA) - Credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima
A Willesden boy with learning disabilities whose mother fought for nine months to get him into a speical school has been awarded a prize for community work.
The Diana Award, signed by David Cameron, was given to 19-year old Nihal Saib, who has fragile X syndrome, for “taking the time to improve the lives of others”.
The ceremony was particularly emotional for his mother, Chopi Saib, of Ilex Road, who ignored local authority advice to put her son in day care and instead campaigned for 10 months to get Nihal into Pield Heath RC school in Uxbridge.
“People said ‘why did you take all the time to do this? Just feed and dress him?’ ” This award has just given me the confidence to say I was right,” said the Iraq-born 52-year-old.
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Ms Saib spent days in panels and court hearings to get Nihal into school, where he threw himself into a variety of challenges and volunteering schemes like gardening and litter picking.
“He is very cheerful and happy, likes to help people and gets really upset if he sees anyone not happy,” she said.
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Ms Saib hopes Nihal will now go on to college and continue his success.
