THE AYA HACHEM YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR 2026
SPONSORED BY
The 1V Young Person of the Year must have demonstrated leadership, character and service to the community of Blackburn.
The 1V Young Person of the Year should be a role model for the community. He/she should be aware of the challenges facing young people today and be an ambassador for the town.
Moreover he/she must have a track record of working with many communities of Blackburn. The Young Person of the Year should show determination to make their hometown an even better place to live.
They must understand the community they operate in and work towards changing negative perceptions of their hometown. The Young person should demonstrate commitment towards their cause whilst being resilient in meeting their goals.
Special credit will be reserved for those working in the area of integration and cohesion. Educational achievement will not be recognised in this category.
While the award aims to acknowledge the work of candidates in the previous 12 months, it can also be recognition of a continued level of service to the communities.
To be considered for nomination the individual needs to be 24 years of age or under on 31st August 2025.
HERE ARE YOUR 2026 FINALISTS
Motunrayo Ainenehi
Born in Nigeria and raised in Blackburn as an asylum seeker, Motunrayo has built an impressive record of achievement, leadership, and community service. She excelled academically throughout school, later achieving three A*s at A level and becoming the highest-scoring applicant for her chosen medical degree.
She is currently an intern at the THOMAS Organisation, supporting their rehabilitation and community outreach work for individuals affected by drug and alcohol addiction. In this role, she promotes online engagement through social media and website development, while also assisting with finance operations. She also serves as a Foundation Governor at Sacred Heart Primary School, a four-year voluntary role in which she supports the school’s mission, monitors progress, and holds leaders to account in order to champion young people’s success.
Her commitment to community impact is demonstrated through her £320 fundraising achievement for Cancer Research UK, completing up to 500 skips a day in the October Skipping Challenge. She also volunteers with Children’s University, running activity sessions for children aged 6–11.
Alongside her sisters, she co-runs OATutors, a tutoring initiative supporting SATs, GCSE and A level students both academically and through online educational content. She has also contributed to the Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, the What About Us anti-violence project, and previously served as Student Union President and Student Governor, leading wellbeing initiatives, charity events, and improvements to college bursaries.
Sanaa
Dewan
Sanaa Dewan is a dedicated young leader whose commitment to community service has made a meaningful impact across Blackburn. Alongside her academic studies, Alimah course, and part-time work, she has devoted the past several years to supporting charitable causes and uplifting those around her. Sanaa has volunteered with organisations such as IMO Charity, Benefit Mankind, and Human Appeal, where she has helped deliver youth sessions, supported vulnerable families, and played a key role in community events.
Her passion for helping others began at a young age and has continued to grow. She has organised and participated in multiple fundraising initiatives, including contributions to the Turkey–Syria Appeal, East Lancashire Hospice, and Hope and Help. In 2025, despite navigating her recent ADHD diagnosis, Sanaa led the planning and delivery of a highly successful Family Fun Day and Bazaar with Human Appeal, raising vital funds for families in Gaza.
Beyond her projects, Sanaa is recognised for her kindness, reliability, and ability to bring people together. She strives to make others feel valued and empowered, especially young people who look up to her as a role model. Her nomination reflects the trust and appreciation of those who witness her positive energy, resilience, and unwavering dedication to creating lasting change.
Ayna
Manahil
Ayna is an inspiring 10-year-old volunteer whose dedication to helping others and protecting the environment has made a meaningful impact across Burnley, Pendle, and Blackburn. Despite her young age, Ayna is the youngest volunteer of the Blackburn-based charity Benefit Mankind, where she is also one of its most active contributors.
Ayna regularly supports multiple food banks by helping to pack and distribute food boxes to families in need. She also assists with feeding homeless individuals and plays an important role in Christmas Day meal distribution and gift-giving, helping ensure vulnerable members of the community feel supported during the festive season.
In addition to her work supporting people, Ayna is a passionate environmental advocate. As a community champion for litter picking, she regularly helps clean streets, parks, and public spaces, encouraging others to take pride in their surroundings. Her love for nature extends beyond her local area, as she also supports wildlife conservation through the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) by adopting pandas.
She also raises money door to door, donating funds to support poor and disadvantaged people locally and internationally. Her compassion, leadership, and commitment to making a positive difference make her a remarkable role model.
Zainab
Shah
Zainab Shah serves as the Youth MP for Blackburn with Darwen, where she has spent several years championing the voices, rights, and aspirations of young people across the borough. A passionate advocate for youth representation, she has spoken in the Houses of Parliament, contributed to council meetings, and led youth-driven events that empower young people to shape decisions affecting their lives.
Among her key achievements, Zainab led the creation of a powerful gambling-harm awareness video that has initiated vital conversations about safety, wellbeing, and informed choices among young people. She also played an important role in developing the Children and Young People’s Plan alongside the Council, helping to identify and champion priority areas including mental-health support, stronger and safer communities, equal opportunities, and online safety.
Beyond her formal responsibilities, Zainab has supported and delivered a wide range of campaigns, such as the annual Takeover Challenge, mental-health awareness projects, youth-safety initiatives, and programmes designed to uplift and include underrepresented young people. Her approach to leadership is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and integrity, always putting the needs of others at the centre of her work.
As a young Pakistani woman in civic leadership, Zainab is committed to representation, empowerment, and driving positive change. She continues to work tirelessly to ensure that every young person in Blackburn with Darwen feels heard, supported, and able to influence the future of their borough.
THE AYA HACHEM YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR 2024
WINNER Sahil Usman
Sahil Usman was the winner of the Aya Hachem Young Person of the Year 2024 Sponsored by Blackburn College.
Sahil’s journey of resilience began in 2018 when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Despite facing his own challenges, he has managed to fund over 100 life-saving cancer treatments abroad. Sahil is currently working on a ground-breaking book that tackles taboo topics, with the aim of empowering individuals to embrace their differences and foster a culture of acceptance.
“As a cancer survivor standing on stage and delivering a speech for this award was an incredibly humbling experience. This recognition has fuelled my determination to continue serving my community, striving to make a positive impact wherever possible,” said 18 year old Sahil.
THE FINALISTS
The 1V Young Person of the Year must have demonstrated leadership, character and service to the community of Blackburn.
The 1V Young Person of the Year should be a role model for the community. He/she must be aware of the challenges facing young people today. Moreover he/she must have a track record of working with many communities of Blackburn. The Young Person of the Year should show determination to make their home town an even better place to live. Special credit will be reserved for those working in the area of integration and cohesion.
Educational achievement will not be recognised in this category.
While the award aims to acknowledge the work of candidates in the previous 12 months, it can also be recognition of a continued level of service to the communities.
To be considered for nomination the individual needs to be 24 years of age or under on 31st August 2023.
Hamzah Hasan
Over the last-12-months Hamzah has volunteered for various charities, engaging and leading weekly sessions as well as completing holiday provisions. His work focuses on developing young people’s personal skills and confidence, which positively influences their mental and physical well-being. He has visited many care homes in Blackburn woth Darwen, gifting hampers and engaging in conversations with the elderly.
Hamzah has been part of a detached community outreach project, tackling anti-social behaviour and violence. He contributes regularly to Brookhouse Development Group (BHDG), in the cemetery project, guiding the public to locate graves and aiding families of the deceased in maintaining and restoring graves of their loved-ones.
Recently, his dedication to CPR training and first-aid proved invaluable in an emergency at his home. During a non-epileptic violent seizure experienced by his sister, Hamzah applied the skills he learned in the cadets and saved her life. This experience highlights his ongoing commitment to community service and youth empowerment.
Muhammad Makda
Thirteen-year-old Muhammad Makda from Blackburn travelled to Lebanon in August 2023 to volunteer and hand out food packages, hygiene kits and money to the refugees that are living in Lebanon. Muhammad managed to raise over £8000 in just over two weeks. This involved him fundraising in many communities in Blackburn, and the local areas. It helped him engage with people he did not come cross on a daily basis.
He spends a lot of his time and energy fundraising for various causes. The trip has inspired him to go again and after hearing the stories of those affected by displacement. He is planning a trip to Syria to build safe houses for the refugees who have been displaced.
At a very young age Muhammad is dedicated to helping those who require additional support due their living conditions around the world, but also locally. He is organising and taking part in various appeals in 2024.
Saman Mehmood
Saman has suffered with mental health personally from the age of 12 and has been through some tough times. Throughout her journey of finding the help and support she needed she was faced with many barriers and stigma from her community. However, this hasn’t stopped Saman from using her voice to make a difference in the community. She now works with many organisations to combat barriers and is now an advocate for mental health amongst young people. She makes it a priority to raise awareness and support those who are struggling with mental health.
Recently, Saman appeared in a mental health video to support health care workers in dealing with BAME patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria. With her lived experience, Saman reaches out to other marginalised groups and people to support their mental health needs, both in her home town of Blackburn and throughout the North West.
Sahil Usman
Sahil’s journey of resilience began in 2018 when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Despite facing his own challenges, Sahil displayed profound empathy for his fellow patients. He selflessly used his own pocket money to provide Christmas presents to those unable to be with their families. Sahil hosts his own show on a local radio station, shedding light on critical topics such as mental health and anti-bullying. Through his fundraising efforts, he has managed to fund over 100 life-saving cancer treatments abroad. Sahil is currently working on a ground-breaking book that tackles taboo topics, with the aim of empowering individuals to embrace their differences and foster a culture of acceptance.
Sahil hopes to continue his work the coming months by raising funds for those who are not able to afford cancer treatment in the likes of Gaza, Ukraine, India and Pakistan. He is also conducting presentations in schools and universities across the borough and beyond to raise awareness of cancer.
The 1V Young Person of the Year must have demonstrated leadership, character and service to the community of Blackburn.
The 1V Young Person of the Year should be a role model for the community. He/she must be aware of the challenges facing young people today. Moreover he/she must have a track record of working with many communities of Blackburn. The Young Person of the Year should show determination to make their home town an even better place to live. Special credit will be reserved for those working in the area of integration and cohesion.
Educational achievement will not be recognised in this category.
While the award aims to acknowledge the work of candidates in the previous 12 months, it can also be recognition of a continued level of service to the communities.
To be considered for nomination the individual needs to be 24 years of age or under on 31st August 2023.
SPONSORED BY
WINNER 2023
Bright & Brilliant Student Wins 1V Youth Award
SPONSORED BY
A brilliant 16 year old won the Aya Hachem Young Person of the Year Award last week in a glittering ceremony at King George’s Hall in Blackburn.
Muhammed Karbhari was presented with the trophy by Dr Fazal Dad, Principal of Blackburn College, and Samar Salame, who’s daughter’s name bears the name on the trophy.
The trustees of One Voice Blackburn decided to rename the Young Person’s award to the Aya Hachem Young person of the Year in 2021, in agreement with Aya’s family. Aya’s life was tragically cut short nearly three years ago through a mindless act.
The 1V Young Person of the Year is awarded to those who have demonstrated leadership, character and service to the community of Blackburn. The Young Person should show determination to make their home town an even better place to live.
Muhammad Karbhari was awarded £10,000 funding by the Ardonagh Community Trust (ACT), Bright Future Prize 2022, which attracted entries from all over the world. Muhammad’s bright idea, which won the Your Vision category, focused on helping the student led social enterprise, Uniformity, at Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School. The enterprise helps parents and carers access affordable school uniforms whilst as the same time helping the planet and local community.
His wider roles include being part of the Strategic Alliance Youth Forum, his role within RAF and his extensive work at IMO Charity from the age of 14. Muhammed Karbhari, who was grateful and honoured at receiving the award, said: “This award has given me the motivation to continue working hard in making a positive impact in everything I do I look forward to using this recognition to inspire others and and contribute to the growth and developments of all my future endeavours. I would like to thank the team at One Voice Blackburn for the wonderful event.”
The winner of the award in 2021 – Muhammad Bapu