DKU Kindness Diaries Trust
2001. Deana Uppal
Deana Uppal, from Birmingham, is an entrepreneur, documentary-maker and actress who set up the charity ‘DKU Kindness Diaries Trust’ to support vulnerable communities in India.
Whilst living in India in 2010, she witnessed some of the poverty faced by Indian communities and was inspired to help, donating a percentage of her monthly earnings towards buying essentials for families in need. After moving back to the UK, she wanted to register a permanent charity to continue providing support for families in need, establishing ‘DKU Kindness Diaries Trust’ in 2020.
The charity is helping hundreds of people every week through their daily food distributions, provision of blankets to the homeless and water purifiers to ensure clean water access. The charity was critical in supporting communities in Jaipur during COVID-19, and distributing PPE kits and oxygen machines to hospitals.
The ‘DKU Kindness Diaries Trust’ also helps children from disadvantaged families, providing them with educational resources and tutoring for those who otherwise would not have access to education, making it accessible for everyone. The Trust has also implemented a toy appeal in India, distributing toys to over 500 children in Jaipur from locations including orphanages and low income areas. Deana has launched educational programmes from America in India, so children can learn English from home.
Alongside the charity work, Deana produced and directed a documentary on the Nomadic community in Rajasthan: ‘India’s forgotten people’, which can be seen on Netflix. The film resulted in large support for the community.
In a personal letter to Deana, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“Your charity DKU Kindness Diaries helps provide access to food, medical supplies, and clean water. You are giving young people the chance to go to school by assisting with the cost of school fees and uniforms. You are helping adults to acquire the vocational skills that will mean they can get better jobs to support their families. And during the pandemic, you helped to make sure oxygen machines and PPE reached hospitals, local police forces and those in need.
“Your kindness and service to others is a wonderful demonstration of the power of the living bridge between the UK and India.”
Deana said:
“Receiving the Points of Light Award from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is a great honour and fills me with immense gratitude. It is an amazing recognition of the hard work and unwavering commitment of the ‘Kindness Diaries Trust’ team to serve those in need. This award serves as a great inspiration and motivates us to continue making a positive impact in the world through our work. We are truly humbled and grateful for the Prime Minister’s recognition and support of our mission.”
See more about the ‘DKU Kindness Diaries Trust’.
Pictured below: Deana (third from right) with PM Rishi Sunak and other Points of Light award winners at an International Women’s Day reception at 10 Downing Street. Picture by Rory Arnold / No 10 Downing Street.
