Hasna Turner may just be 15, but she is already setting out to change the world.

In addition to travelling to Jordan to help struggling refugees, Hasna is writing a book detailing the struggles of the Uighurs in Bermuda.

“I had heard about their plight, what they have endured and what they are still going through,” she said.

“They are not able to obtain travel documents or citizenship, and that doesn’t just affect them, it affects their families. It’s a human rights violation that is happening.”

The book project came about as part of her education at Somersfield Academy, which tasks M5 students with completing a personal project on a subject of their choice.

Having already developed an interest in social justice and human rights, Hasna’s interest in the Uighurs was a natural choice.

The Uighurs — a group of four Muslim men from central Asia — were taken in by Bermuda after being released from Guantánamo Bay in 2009. While the men have since found work, married and have had children, because of the circumstances of their arrival they and their children are considered stateless, leaving them trapped on the island.

“I am a Muslim, so we often celebrate religious holidays like Ramadan together,” she said. “Growing up, I never quite understood the severity of the issue. My mother was able to explain to me in a way that I could comprehend how serious the issue really is.

“As I got older, I became extremely interested in social justice and human rights, and the reality is that these people don’t have as many rights living in Bermuda as other Bermudians.

“They were promised that they would get citizenship and travel documents in 2009, but it’s 2016 and that has remained unfulfilled.”

As part of her research she not only spoke to the men, but also their lawyers to get a greater understanding of the international issue involving multiple governments.

“We are not just dealing with the Bermuda Government, but also the British Government and the Chinese Government,” she said.

Her goal is to complete the book, tentatively titled Prisoners in Paradise, and have it published by January, after which she hopes to make it available both online and at local retailers.

“I’m planning to publish it on Amazon and try to sell it at some of the local book stores around Bermuda like the Bermuda Book Store and Bookmart,” she said. “From there maybe I will be able to branch out, but right now that’s my focus.”

Hasna is also looking at continuing her quest for social justice after graduating, saying that she is considering various law schools to determine which would best suit her.

She also urged other young people curious about human rights issues to step forward and make their voices heard.

“It’s all about making that first step,” she said. “We all need to do what we are passionate about and what we love. If you find out you love something, it’s much easier.

“A lot of young people are really interested in social media and material stuff, and we don’t really understand what other people are going through but once I started getting into it, I realised that we as young people have the potential to make a difference in these people’s lives.

“I don’t just want to talk about the topic, I want to do something about it.”