Malala Yousafzai ia a popular activist for female education born on July 12, 1997.
She is also a former blogger for BBC Urdu and student known for human rights advocacy, most especially the education of women.
Early Life & Background
Yousafzai was born into a middle class family to a Pakistan parents; father, Ziauddin Yousafzai and mother, Toor Pekai Yousafzai.
Education
Yousafzai attended Edgbaston high school in Birmingham from march 2013 to july 2017.
Later, she studied Geography, history, and mathematics and Religious studies at A level.
The young activist is presently studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.
History & Activism
Malala Yousafzai who is a native of Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, had advocate for human rights especially for the women education where the Taliban had banned girls from attending school.
On October 9, 2012, she was shot on the head by a taliban gunman in attempt to take her life just in retaliation for her activism.
She had remained unconscious at the Rawalpindi institute of cardiology but was later transferred to the Queen El;izabeth hospital in Birmingham, Uk.
The attempt on her life soon brought about an international outcry and support for Yousafzai which made her advocacy grown into an international movement.
She was said to have become the ‘most famous teenager in the world’ as reported by Deutsche Welle in January 2013.
On her recovery, Malala became a prominent education right activist.
She co-authored I Am Malala, an international best seller in 2013.
She was the recipient of Pakistan’s first National youth peace prize in 2012 and Sakharov prize in 2013.
She also received the 2014 Nobel peace prize along with Kailash Satyarth which made her the youngest ever Nobel prize laurete at the age of 17.
Yousafzai was also featured as one of the most influential people by Time Magazine in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
However, after several months of recovery, Malala finally gave a speech at the United Nations on July 12, 2013 which happens to be her 16th birthday.
She chose to spend her birthday with the whole world where she higlighted and emphasized on the importance of human rights and women education.
As regards her fame, several books were published including Yousafzai’s Memoir I Am Malala, co-written by British Journalist Christian Lamb whereby a reviever for the Guardian called the book ‘fearless’ and that of the Washington post called it ‘riveting’.
In support of Yousafzai advocacy for human rights, American singer, Madonna dedicated her song “Human Nature” to her at a concert in Los Angeles and American actress, Angelina Jolie also wrote an article as regards an issue.
Malala Yousafzai Quotes
Below are the heart warming and inspiring words from the young activist.
1. We realized the importance of our voices when we are silenced.
2. When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.
3. One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.
4. My mother always told me ‘Hide your face people are looking at you’. I would reply ‘it does not matter i am also looking at them’.
5. If one man can destroys everything, why can’t one girl change it?
Awards & Honours
Yousafzai has so mmany achievements at her youn age and here are the list of national and international honours been awarded.
1. National youth peace prize (2012).
2. Anne Frank award for moral courage (2012).
3. Time magazine person of the year shortlist (2012).
4. Mother teresa awards for social justice (2012).
5. Simone de Beauvoir prize (2013).
6. Clinton global citizen awards from clinton foundation (2013).
7. Pride of Britain (2013).
8. Skoll Global Treasure Award (2014).
9. Youngest ever United Nation Messenger of peace (2017).
10. Honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa (2017).
11. Wonk of the year 2017 from American University.
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