Page 63 - Great Elizabethans

“If one girl with an education can change the world, what can 130 million do?”
THE MALALA FUND
Although Malala considered the UK her second home, she missed the beauty of her mountain valley, and the tastes and smells of the home she had been forced to leave. But she was also determined to seize the chances her new home offered, and to continue fighting for what she believed in. She and her father set up an organisation called the Malala Fund, dedicated to making sure every girl has access to 12 years of free and safe education. The organisation concentrates on the countries where girls are most likely to miss out on going to school
as they get older. As well as meeting and helping the girls themselves, they support and train teachers and activists in these places to help their students too. Malala wants to ensure that every girl in the world can choose the future she wants – and have the right education for it.
“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.”
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
In 2013, on her 16th birthday, Malala made a speech to the United Nations, in which she called on the world’s leaders to put aside their disagreements, to fight for education and to make sure that women’s rights are
protected. She also presented a petition to the UN Secretary-General demanding education for all. It had more than 3 million signatures!
The day was called ‘Malala Day’ in her honour.
At age 17, she was given the Nobel Peace Prize – the
youngest person ever to receive it. She went on to study at Oxford University, while at the same time continuing to fight injustice for women and girls across the world. In 2020, Malala graduated from university, completing her own education, and one of her hopes for the
future is that every other girl should be able to do the same.
Malala is also a published author! Her books include I Am Malala, the story of her life, and We Are Displaced, which tells the stories of many women throughout the world who have had to leave their homes.
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