Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai was born on July, 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakastan. She attended a school that her father Zaiuddin Yousafzai founded. When she was only ten years old, the Taliban started to take control and began to target girls' schools and their personal education. Even though she was young, Yousafzai knew that she had a right to an education, so she proceeded to give a speech titled “How Dare the Taliban Take Away My Basic Right to Education.” In 2009, she collaborated under a fake name with the BBC and started blogging her views, writing about the threats the Taliban made to take her education. The blog gained a lot of attention, and later that year her identity was revealed. She kept speaking up about the issues at hand and her human freedoms. In 2011, Yousafzai was awarded the Pakistani National Youth Peace Prize. The Taliban was not happy with her activism, and although she received many threats, Yousafzai persevered.

 In 2012, Yousafzai was riding the school bus when it suddenly stopped and two men came on board asking who Malala was. When she was identified, the two men shot her in the head. From there, she was rushed to the hospital where she stayed for several months receiving rehabilitating treatment. Later she was transferred to a hospital in England. Yousafzai miraculously survived with no brain damage and went back to school in the UK in 2013. Even though she was shot, she still continued to advocate for what she believed in. Her word started to spread globally, gaining lots of attention from many. On her 16th birthday, Yousafzai gave a speech at the United Nations. Malala’s activism landed her many awards, and soon enough she was given the Nobel Peace Prize.  At age 17, it made her the youngest Nobel laureate. Yousafzai went on to write a book named I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education And Was Shot By The Taliban. It has become a global bestseller. 

Malala Yousafzai is an inspiration for people all around the world. She has proven it is never too early to fight for an education or for peace, and she continues to be a global influence around the globe for young girls everywhere.