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Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani women’s rights activist who attracted global attention due to her advocacy for girl’s education.
Malala was born in Pakistan, and attended a school that her father founded. She was always passionate about education and a thriving student however, when the Taliban (an Islamic group of Afghanistan and western Pakistan, known for its military activities) began taking control of the area, forcing girls to stop attending school while attacking ones who did. Malala did not back down, but instead she fought for her rights as a women, and fought for her right to an education. She presented an inspiring speech called “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?
Her fight for education became globally known, Malala was an inspiration to many and was admired for her courageous actions at such a young age. However since Malala was against the Taliban’s educational policies, this made her a clear target towards the group. When she was 14, the Taliban declared a death threat against Malala.
It was on October 9, 2012 when the world watched a Taliban gunman shoot Malala in the head as she was travelling home from school. The bullet travelled through the left side of her head and down her neck. This left Malala tremendously close to death and 2 other girls injured.
After the attack, Malala had to endure many surgeries to ensure a full recovery. When her amazing recovery finished, Malala expressed her passion, when she made her first public appearance to present a speech at the United Nations Youth Assembly on her 16th birthday in 2013. Malala Yousafzai made history for women's educational rights with this powerful speech.
MALALA YOUSAFZAI'S ACHIEVEMENTS
Since surviving Malala has now had the opportunity to write an autobiography called
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.
She had also created a 'Malala Petition' which is a pettition to urge the United Nations
to recommit the Millennium Development Goal 2. Millennium Development Goal 2
involves universal primary education for children around the world. Malala's amazing
journey through life encouraged many to sign.
Malala became a world known passionate advocate for girl’s education after the BBC
allowed her to blog for them about her experiences living under the Taliban’s threats.
This gave Malala a broad audience to express her beliefs that all women should be given
the right to an education.
Malala still strongly advocates for girls’ education worldwide and fights for women's rights. The Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated Malala saying that “She is the pride of Pakistan, she has made her countrymen proud. Her achievement is unparalleled and unequalled.”
Malala Yousafzai her new advocacy plan, The Malala Fund. She provided the first grant to provide girls' education in Pakistan. The Malala Fund together with the United Nations Foundation and Girl Up supports education for all children across the world. Within this fund, Malala's vision for girls education is brought to life.
http://www.malala.org/malala-fund/
AWARDS
It was due to her fight for education rights that she was nominated and won the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the youngest person ever to receive such an admirable award.
Due to her advocacy, Malala was also nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2011 and was awarded Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize.
Therefore, Malala Yousafzai came out a historic influential figure after her incredible journey to fight for girls education. She has inspired many individuals to take action in what they believe in and to not let age or gender be a barrier. This makes Malala a true fighter and an inspiration to many.
Malala has said “I speak not for myself but for those without voice... those who have fought for their rights... their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated”. It is the struggle and fight she has undergone to advocate
