Growing up here in the UK school often seemed boring or dull. But for children in the UK, school is a fundamental right and one that is open to everyone, no matter their social or economic background or their gender. Yet for millions of children across the world, school isn’t an option available to them, and 130 million girls are still denied the right to an education. One Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, was appalled by this, and at just 11 years old began speaking out and demanding education for all girls in Pakistan. However, on 9th October 2012 Malala was shot by a masked gunman on her school bus simply for protesting for this right. Fortunately, Malala survived the attack and has since dedicated her time and efforts to continuing to demand education for girls across the world.
During her treatment, Malala was moved to the UK to a hospital which specialized in military injuries, and was later joined by her family. Settled in Birmingham she went on to achieve excellent GCSE results, but also continued her campaign for children’s access to education. In 2013 she co-founded the Malala Fund which aims to ensure that all girls across the world have access to at least 12 years of safe, quality education. Working in Pakistan, Kenya, Nigeria and with Syrian refugees, the Fund invests in opportunities and technologies to aid girls access to education.
At just 17 years old, Malala became the youngest ever Nobel Prize laureate with her work establishing the Fund. In keeping with her commitment, Malala donated her entire $500,000 prize money towards funding a secondary school for girls in Pakistan. In her noble prize acceptance speech she said, “This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change”.
Since receiving her Nobel prize Malala has continued the campaign, celebrating her 18th birthday by opening the ‘Malala Yousafzai All-Girls School’ in Lebanon near the Syrian border. The school aims to provide quality secondary education for Syrian girls living in the refugee camps. Commenting on the opening of the school Malala said “I am here on behalf of the 28 million children who are kept from the classroom because of armed conflict. Their courage and dedication to continue their schooling in difficult conditions inspires people around the world and it is our duty to stand by them”. Malala has also been listed in Time Magazine’s list of ‘The 100 Most Influential People in the World’ for consecutive years in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and continues to inspire many around the world today. Upon hearing of her Nobel Peace Prize award, President Barack Obama praised Malala saying ‘Malala Yousafzai has inspired people around the world with her passion and determination to make sure girls everywhere can get an education. When the Taliban tried to silence her, Malala answered their brutality with strength and resolve.’
You can read more about Malala Fund here: https://www.malala.org/