Inspiring graduate was first in her family to go to school after fleeing the Taliban

Gurvin Chopra, 23, whose parents fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, made a speech to a crowd of around 1,000 graduating students and their loved ones in Bristol, in which she spoke about what a "privilege it is to pursue an education".

Her parents - Jaspal and Waryam Chopra - were forced by the Taliban to leave their home country in 2000 because of their Sikh religion.

Although neither received any education, and cannot read or write, they encouraged Miss Chopra and her two younger siblings to work hard at school.

She said: ""In their youth my parents weren't really allowed to participate in education,

"My grandfather died young and my dad had to work, and there was a cultural element of what a woman's place was. Despite that, they've always seen the value in education.

"I always saw education as a way out and a way of making myself different from the women I saw growing up, who often didn't work.

"I've found education really empowering in breaking away from that, developing a voice and helping the people around me."

After finishing her undergraduate law degree in 2023 at the University of Bristol, for which she received a bursary, Miss Chopra went on to study for a master's degree in human rights law at the university.

She also volunteered with the university's law clinic, where law students provide free legal help to those in need.

Now working as an elected officer for Bristol Students' Union, Miss Chopra has also set up a charity, The Beathard Project, which seeks to uncover miscarriages of justice to posthumously exonerate people who have been executed for alleged crimes.

After finishing her year as a students' union officer, Miss Chopra plans to work on her charity before becoming a human rights lawyer.