Onjali Rauf

A self-declared feminist from the age of seven, Onjali specialised in Women’s Studies at Oxford University before working in a number of human rights charities. Onjali is the Founder of Making Herstory, working with agencies large and small, it works to mobilise people from all walks of life to support women’s shelters, lobby for women’s rights and join anti-trafficking movements. Onjali is now an award-winning children’s author; her debut children’s book The Boy At the Back of the Class highlighting the refugee crisis from a child’s perspective won the Blue Peter’s Children’s Book of the Year 2019 and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2019. Her second book published in October 2019, The Star Outside My Window, focuses on the tragic impacts of domestic violence on the lives of children.

The Nightbus Hero

As the eviction ban is lifted, and furlough schemes end there are fears of a new wave of homelessness in the UK. In London, over 4000 individuals were sleeping rough as of 2019, 28% more than in 2018. At least 8,900 people are estimated to be sleeping in tents, cars and on public transport in the UK. Something needs to change. Told from the perspective of a bully, Onjali’s latest book The Nightbus Hero explores themes of bullying and homelessness, while celebrating kindness, friendship and the potential everyone has to change for the good.