WHY WE DO IT
Who she was.
Azra Kemal was a force of nature. A young woman who worked tirelessly to expose injustice and make sure people’s voices were heard. A straight-A student and law graduate, it’s hard to believe that Azra was thrown out of school as a teenager, where she bravely spoke out about abuse, and where she fearlessly stood up to classmates’ racial slurs to defend others.
Azra went on to work as a ‘fixer’ with Sky News home editor, Jason Farrell, shedding light on county lines drug dealing and the young people exploited. Jason described her as ‘extraordinary’, ‘phenomonal’ and full of ‘empathy, charm and dogged persuasiveness’. She cared deeply for those whose stories she brought to the fore, listening without judgment and with genuine compassion.
Azra is solid proof that past experiences don’t have to define your future. And they certainly don’t define who you are.
Tragically, Azra died aged just 24 on 16th July 2020.
RMVF is led by Azra’s mother, Nevres Kemal, a social worker, to continue to support and highlight the hidden struggles of people from minorities, disadvantaged social-economic backgrounds and victims of abuse. This was Azra’s passion and ultimate mission in life.
RMVF is her legacy.
Azra’s light shines on.
To find out more about the tragic circumstances surrounding Azra’s death, you can read the report from Sky’s Jason Farrell here. Please take care when reading as this report contains graphic and upsetting descriptions.
