A 14-year-old pupil from St Helen’s School in Northwood beat off competition from all across the UK to win a national design competition organised by Amnesty International (AI).

As part of the human rights group’s Speak Free education programme, schoolchildren from across the country were asked to submit a sticker design to mark the human rights organisation’s 50th birthday – and Vicki Oyesola’s broken chain design came first out of 600 entrants.

“I was completely shocked,” says Vicki, who studies art. “It was a big surprise. It was one of those things you do and do not expect to hear anything about afterwards. I was speechless.

“I wanted to draw something that would stand out, and that would catch people’s eyes. I was trying to think of something simple, and at the same time trying to capture what Amnesty International is – an international organisation for human rights that tries to give everyone an equal chance of freedom and equal rights that everyone deserves.

“Normally chains are used to show people that are imprisoned, captured and denied their human rights. I wanted to use the word freedom to break those chains so I used the Amnesty candle in the word ‘freedom’, to make it clear that Amnesty is what gives freedom.”

Carolyn Hill, the middle school head at St Helen’s, said: “The Amnesty International Group at St Helen’s has a long tradition of raising awareness of on-going human rights abuses and has an active involvement in campaigns.

“Many girls in Year 9 studying human rights entered the competition and we are delighted that Vicki Oyesola won.”

Amnesty International’s Dan Jones, who presented Vicki with a specially-made framed version of the winning entry at her school, added: “Vicki’s design was the judge’s unanimous choice. In a single striking image it captures the fundamental aim of Amnesty: to break the chains of human rights abuse.”