Aya Hachem was just nine years old when she and her family arrived in the UK. Fleeing war and conflict in Lebanon, they sought refuge in Blackburn.
They had made the difficult decision to leave their home behind after Aya's father was shot in crossfire. Within five years of arriving in Lancashire, Aya was described as 'a beacon of hope'.
By the age of 14, she sat with her parents on a panel to help traumatised refugees. She spoke little of her own trauma, but her early life, and journey to supposed safety left its mark on her, as she planned a career in international law.
