Wafa Sultan has been described as a hero, a reformist, a crusader and a brave woman speaking out against Islamic extremism. In 2006, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people ‘whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.’ It praises her for expressing openly views widely shared by other Muslims but rarely aired, writes Vida Adamoli.

Wafa Sultan, born to a Sunni Muslim family in Damascus, Syria, emigrated to the United States 1989. In 2001 she began taking part in the political debates on Al-Jazeera and CNN that brought her to public attention.

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Chris Burkes' parents were told their Downs Syndrome son was a lost cause. They were advised to put him in an institution and forget about him. Instead they took him home to cherish and educate.

He grew up to be a successful actor and singer. 'Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal', he says. 'Always say to yourself, "Yes I can." Believe in yourself, work hard, never give up!'

by Vida Adamoli

On 23 October 1984 the BBC broadcast a news report of the famine devastating Ethiopia. One of the most powerful and enduring images was of a young woman, surrounded by 85,000 starving people, with the terrible task of choosing which children went to a feeding centre and which were too far gone to be saved.

Claire Bertschinger, an International Red Cross nurse, ran two feeding centres and was the central figure of Michael Buerk’s report. In a now famous piece of footage, he asked, “Does that do anything to you?’ 'What do you expect?’ she replied. ‘It breaks my heart.’

by Vida Adamoli

When he was just 17, Ben Way made a life-changing business deal worth £25m, making him one of Britain’s youngest self-made millionaires.

Six years later, venture capitalists pulled the plug on his company and he lost everything  - although he has since rebuilt his fortune.

Ben's childhood was blighted by dyslexia. A teacher told him he would never read or write and that he would never make anything of himself. 'I was seven years old. Those words made me want to give up completely. They really haunted me for years to come,' he recalls.

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‘It is not really my fault if some people are hungry, but it would be my fault if nothing changed,’ maintained Michel Colucci, better known as the French comedian, Coluche.

So in 1985 he created the 'Restos du Coeur' charity to distribute hot meals and food packages to the needy and the homeless.

by Geraldine Royds

Subhankar Banerjee, artist and activist, uses photography to raise awareness about issues that threaten the health and well-being of our planet.

Since 2000, he has focused on the American Artic. He works closely with indigenous communities there and his photographs have been instrumental in conservation efforts, including the debate over oil drilling, writes Geraldine Royds.