Malala Yousafzai, 16, is a hero, a leader, and an inspiration. Born and raised in the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan she is a school pupil who believes in education for women in a country that banned girls from attending school. In early 2009 when she was about 11 Malala wrote a blog for BBC detailing life under Taliban rule, their attempts to control Swat, and her passion for educating girls. The following summer the New York Times created a documentary on Malala’s life under military rule. She became well known and participated in interviews and made appearances on TV. Malala was soon nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize. She was making waves not only for her community in Swat, but also for women all over the world.
On October 9th, 2012 the Taliban while coming home from school shot Malala in the head and neck in an assassination attempt. She was in critical condition and then underwent intensive rehabilitation.
In her novel she states, “…the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. And my dreams are the same. Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I am here to speak for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. I do not even hate the Talib who shot me.”
The world came together for Malala. She became the most famous teenager in the world and the United Nations launched a petition titled “I am Malala” demanding that all children worldwide be in school by the end of 2015. She was placed on the cover of Time Magazine’s 100 most Influential People in the World, and was the youngest person in history to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Malala has just released her new book, which details the events in her life and her hopes for education in the future. She appears on talk shows and interviews consistently in order to tell her story and the story of millions of silenced girls all over the world.
Malala represents the hope that is our future. She is beautiful, brave, strong, and passionate all at the tender age of 16. In the face of tragedy she emerges powerful and graceful. She is a true hero.