A teenage refugee who witnessed the extreme violence of the conflict in her native Syria has been nominated for an award.
Sara Taha Hajj Ahmad, who lives in Harpenden Road, Aldersbrook, saw at first-hand the horrors of war before fleeing with her family to the UK in late-2012.
The Wanstead High School sixth-former, 18, has been nominated in the Young London People of the Year Awards for her charity work.
Sara is a member of Wanstead High School's council, which organises charity events.
Each Sunday she volunteers at a charity shop and has volunteered at a doctor's surgery and a pharmacy.
She is planning to visit elderly people with dementia as she seeks to follow her dream of becoming a doctor.
Sara's father Nizar, who worked in Syria as a translator, came to the UK to study for a Masters in English at Kingston University in 2010.
His family, wife Fatima, Sara and her sister Reem, now 15, were not planning to come to the UK before the conflict started.
Concerned for the safety of his family, Sara's father sought to bring his family to the country, but the British Embassy in Syria was closed and the family had to travel to neighbouring Lebanon to see British officials.
Eventually they were granted visas and flew to the UK in December 2012.
But before thery left, they witnessed the horrors of war, with the family were forced to travel between the cities of Aleppo and Raqqa to escape the violence.
Sara said: “In Aleppo I saw dead bodies in the street after fighting and buildings ruined by gunfire and shelling.
“People were suffering because of injuries and lack of food and fresh water.
“Sometimes we don't always appreciate what we have until we lose it.”
Sara was nominated for the award by fellow student, 17-year-old Etham Goldsmith Lister.
He described her as a "true inspiration".
Ethan said: “Sara is grateful for being in this country, but also talks about how grateful people should be for everyday things.
“She spoke a little English when she arrived here and has obviously learned more, but occasionally struggles with the language despite trying hard.”
Sara is currently in sixth-form at Wanstead High School.
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