Actar Dinata’s Legacy of Kindness: Why You Never Retire From Giving
They say legacy is what you leave behind when you are gone—but for Actar Dinata, legacy is something you live, every day, with every choice. Dr Marina Nani looks into her legacy of kindness and the one reason you never retire from giving.
In a world often driven by competition and grid, there are a rare few souls who serve not for recognition, but from an unshakable calling. Actar Dinata has one of the most remarkable untold stories —a woman whose life is a living testament to what it means to give more than you take, to lead with compassion, and to turn unimaginable grief into a force for global good.
Honoured with countless awards, Actar’s journey is far more than the sum of accolades. These recognitions are echoes of a lifelong devotion to youth, mental health and humanitarian action across borders. From the cover of Sovereign Magazine, where she was celebrated for her ethos of generosity, to the hearts of the young people she mentors, Actar’s story is one that transcends titles—it is a story of enduring love in action.
Her humanitarian path began early. At just 19, Actar took her first job as a TV and radio presenter, but it wasn’t the microphone that defined her—it was the moment she began responding to calls for help. “Clothing, food, medicine… I didn’t think twice,” she recalls. “I just started giving.” That instinct to give, to uplift, and to stand beside those society too often overlooks has never left her. Decades later, that same fire continues to guide every project she touches.
Beneath her tireless service lies a profound, personal tragedy, the kind that could break even the strongest spirit. In 2000, Actar lost her young daughter Emma, to a rare liver disease. Just 17, Emma was athletic, radiant, kind-hearted and full of dreams. She played volleyball, rugby, and basketball; she was a stage manager, a festival organiser, a bright light in her community. And then, in the space of a week, she was gone.
“Losing Emma shattered our world,” Actar says quietly. “But I knew I had two choices: let the pain consume me, or transform it into purpose.”
From that excruciating tragedy, the Emma Dinata Foundation was born, built not only in memory of Emma’s life but in honour of her spirit. With the help of Parmiter’s School—where Emma had been a student—and its headmaster, Brian Coulshed, the foundation now supports ongoing research at the Royal Free Hospital and funds an annual student award, keeping Emma’s name alive in the hearts of young people.
Yet Actar’s legacy doesn’t stop there. She is a mentor through and through, having coached and led students in The Dragon’s Apprentice Challenge at Parmiter’s School—earning a trophy for the “Most Inspirational Business Dragon.” Under her leadership, teams of sixth formers raised money for children and adults with disabilities, learning not just about business, but about what it means to lead with empathy.
Whether she’s arranging student visits to BBC Studios, guiding teens through fundraising campaigns, or speaking to Members of Parliament about youth unemployment, Actar is fuelled by a deeper vision: a world where no one feels left behind.
She is not a politician, though her actions have transformed policies. She is not just a celebrity, though her work has graced magazine covers and award stages. Actar is the epitome of kindness, a mother, a mentor, a quiet force in a loud world and a dear friend.
Her long-standing involvement with Citizens UK, where she works alongside 350 volunteers representing hundreds of thousands of voices, reflects her commitment to social inclusion at every level. Her voice has also joined the mission of OLLIE—a charity founded by grieving parents to prevent youth suicide—providing hope, resources, and preventative training to those working on the frontlines.
And when Dame Helen Hyde invited her to become the fundraising chief of a refugee support project, Actar didn’t hesitate. Fluent in multiple languages, she offers not only logistical help but something far deeper to newcomers: dignity, connection, and a listening heart.
In July 2019, she received the Audentior Award, the Mayor of Watford’s highest civic honour, for lifetime contributions to youth and community services. Later that same year, the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International presented her with the Paul Harris Award, recognising her for strengthening global understanding and building peace, one act of kindness at a time.
Actar’s work doesn’t stop at borders. She’s raised funds for school building projects in Africa and Asia, lent her energy to the Royal Free Hospital’s research efforts, and consistently inspires others to believe that even one person can move mountains.
“I can’t retire from helping others,” she says with a smile that holds both sorrow and strength. “Maybe I can’t change the whole world. But I can change one life at a time.”
In every corner of her journey, from broadcasting booths to classrooms, from refugee shelters to award stages, Actar carries the spirit of her daughter and a legacy that is rooted not in fame or fortune, but in fierce, unrelenting kindness.
Her dream? A cleaner planet. An end to isolation. More youth empowered with skills, not fear. And a world where giving isn’t an exception—it’s the norm.
If Actar had a magic wand, she wouldn’t wish for riches or ease. She would use it to light every dark place, heal every hurting heart and lift every young person who’s ever been told they’re not enough. But she doesn’t need a wand. Actar Dinata brings the magic of kindness everywhere she goes.
