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Faraz Harsini receives Winsome Constance Kindness Gold Medal
He was awarded for advancing animal welfare, expanding awareness of the Jain principle of ahimsa, and leading student-driven advocacy through Allied Scholars for Animal Protection.
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Staff Reporter - Fri, 31, Jul 2026
- 17:16 EDT
- 23
Harsini awarding wollen with animal liberation award / Allied Scholars for Animal Protection
Indian-origin animal welfare advocate, Faraz Harsini, was awarded the Winsome Constance Kindness Gold Medal, an international honor recognizing contributions to animal welfare and humanitarian advocacy.
Founder and CEO of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP), Harsini was recognized for expanding awareness of the Jain principle of ahimsa, or nonviolence toward all living beings, through his advocacy and educational initiatives.
The award was presented by philanthropist and former Citibank vice president Philip Wollen during a live event in Australia on July 14. The medal carries a cash prize of 20,000 Australian dollars, which Harsini donated in full to ASAP to support the nonprofit's student-led animal advocacy campaigns.
Also read: Indian-origin graduate receives top honor at Indiana University
Wollen praised Harsini and credited him with helping introduce its message to broader audiences in the United States. "I've subsequently introduced Faraz to the Jain community, and he has become, in the last year or so, one of the most profound and beloved exemplars of everything that the Jains believe in. And that is ahimsa, non-violence to any living being. And that is going to be one of his greater legacies as he opens up a beachhead in the United States," Wollen said.
Accepting the award, Harsini thanked Wollen for his mentorship and said he would continue inspiring students to become the next generation of advocates for animals and compassionate living.
“I can’t thank you enough, but all I can do is to just give it my best and amplify what you started. Your speech is still motivating many of my students. So all I can do is to make sure more and more people are motivated and become the next generation of people like you. Thank you, I’m humbled,” Harsini said.
ASAP has established 40 student chapters across 60 college campuses, engaging students from disciplines including science, health care, public policy and business to advocate for animal protection and promote plant-based initiatives.
Founded to support student-led efforts to end animal exploitation, ASAP works with university chapters across the United States and mentors young leaders pursuing careers in science, health care, policymaking and other fields while promoting animal welfare and ethical advocacy.
The Winsome Constance Kindness Gold Medal is awarded annually by the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust, founded by Wollen and his wife, Trix. The trust describes the honor as recognizing individuals of distinguished international standing for advancing kindness and humanitarian values.
Past recipients include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi, primatologist Jane Goodall, broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, philosopher Peter Singer and physician Dr. Neal Barnard.
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