Malala Yousafzai

BY: SANELA LIEM

If I could invite a woman of my choice to the Dinner Party 2018, Malala Yousafzai would be there. Malala was born on July 12, 1997 in Mingora , Pakistan. The area in which she lived was once a beautiful tourist destination, but after the Taliban attempted to take control, her home became a place of fear for many. She attended a school her father founded, but the Taliban invaded and began attacking girls at her school. She gave a speech entitled “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” in September 2008. When Malala was stripped of her one basic right, she began blogging for the BBC to raise awareness on the injustices her and many other girls faced. In order to remain safe while disobeying rules, she hid her identity by using the name Gul Makai. However, her name was revealed not long after. Even with this risk, she still continued to contribute to activism for equal education for women. Her perseverance resulted in a nomination for the International Children's Peace Prize in 2011. That same year, she was awarded Pakistan's National Peace Prize. However, things took a turn for the worse when the Taliban began making death threats on Malala. On October 9, 2012, when Malala was just 15 years old, a masked gunman boarded her bus and fired at her, shooting a bullet that went through the left side of her head. She was under intensive surgery in places around the world. Five months later on March 2013, she was out of surgery and fully capable of going back to school.

Malala was honored with many awards throughout her life that made her achievements more recognizable. On October 10, 2013, she was awarded with the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament, in acknowledgement of her work. In April 2017, United Nations Secretary- General Antonio Guterres appointed Yousafzai as a U.N. Messenger of Peace to promote girls education. The appointment is the highest honor given by the United Nations for an initial period of two years. Yousafzai was also given honorary Canadian citizenship in April 2017. She is the sixth person and the youngest in the country's history to receive the honor.

Malala deserves to be represented in the Dinner Party because it seems like women of different religious backgrounds are underrepresented at the table. Malala is not only a unique woman of the Muslim religion, but she also affected and continues to impact women around the world by fighting for equality. Her accomplishments inspire others around her and helped her achieve the most exceptional award there is, the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala received this award on October 10, 2014 at age 17, making her the youngest recipient of this award. During her Nobel Peace Prize speech, she said these few lines, “I tell my story, not because it is unique, but because it is not. It is the story of many girls.” This powerful message sheds light on the hardships and dangers women face and on the importance of education for all. Malala continues to fight for education and remains unstoppable as she attends Oxford University, where she is studying philosophy, politics and economics at Lady Margaret Hall.

All other information about Malala can be found on malala.org, the Malala Fund, where her story is told and all her achievements are recognized. You can join Malala by contributing to her campaign for education for all girls and donate, start a fundraiser or take action in any way.

Although you may be allowed the privilege of an education, it is important to remember there are girls less fortunate than you who are stripped of that right.

All people must be provided the right to a safe and happy future.

Be the change and fight for a right girls must have.

click here to visit The Malala Fund

Malala’s Place Setting

Malala is a humanitarian that speaks out about people’s right to a life devoid of poverty and terrorism but her main objective is to identify everyone’s right to an education. In her speech to the United Nations Youth Assembly on “Malala Day,” her 16th birthday, Malala said, “... let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.” Malala realizes the power of education and how it can uplift a society and solve many problems. This is why I have centered my plate with a drawing of a strong hand grasping a pencil as the pages of a book blow open in the background. These are the tools Malala believes can change the world. I have chosen to use bright colors of orange and yellow as she is often seen in photographs wearing these particular bright and uplifting colors. I extended those more radiant and sunny colors in the runner to reflect her personality. Malala is bright, funny and a genuinely happy spirit.

Her runner resembles a color gradient of tranquility and positivity. Malala is a woman of great strength, courage and is constantly spreading positivity to women around the world. I chose to represent one of her greatest accomplishments and portray the Nobel Peace Prize on the runner. I wanted to shed light on the fact that she was the youngest recipient of this prize so I bordered the runner in pink tassels to represent her youth as well as her femininity. Her name is sewed on with gold yarn to emblematize her blissful and glorious self. Malala is a humble person who is rich in knowledge, love, and religion. I wanted to show that as credited and as well known as she is, Malala proves that even with all the fame she has, it cannot buy her happiness and all the love she has in her heart for humanity.