Growing up in a conservative family in Tunisia, Aya Chebbi was first noticed because of her political blogs during protests that eventually led to the ousting of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. But her campaigning on women’s rights issues such as early and forced marriage has not been welcomed everywhere, and she is blacklisted by Egypt. A former Mo Ibrahim Foundation scholar and now a leading voice for young people in Africa, she is encouraging others to mobilise for peace and social justice

Photograph: Courtesy of Aya Chebbi