Hero of Hope: Malala Yousafzai

The Story:

Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997 in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. Malala’s father, Ziauddin, a poet, school owner, and educational activist, taught her the value of an education at an early age. Considering her something “entirely special,” Ziauddin often let Malala stay up late at night to discuss life and politics, long after her two brothers went to bed.

In 2008, radical Taliban militants began to take infiltrate the Swat Valley. Forcing their ultra-conservative views on the society, they banned television, music, girls’ education, and forbade women from leaving the home without a male companion. They killed anyone who challenged their rule and set about blowing up hundreds of schools for girls. Incited by the injustice around her, Malala began writing a blog for the BBC detailing the horrors of life under the Taliban. She was inspired by her father’s activism and soon began to take on a more public role herself. She stopped using a pseudonym to protect her identity and, bravely, took a stand for girls’ education as Malala Yousafzai. Encouraged by her efforts, South African activist Desmond Tutu nominated her for the International Children’s Peace Prize saying, “Malala dared to stand up for herself and other girls and used national and international media to let the world know girls should also have the right to go to school.”

Despite multiple death threats at home, Malala refused to be silenced and continued going to school. On October 9, 2012, 15-year-old Malala was on a bus ride home from school with her classmates when a masked gunman stopped and boarded the bus. “Who is Malala?” the Taliban’s assassin demanded. At point blank range, he shot 3 bullets at Malala. One struck her in the forehead, tore through her eardrum, severed the nerve in her face, and lodged in her shoulder near her spine. 

The Inspiration:

The school bus rushed to the local hospital but it was only equipped with basic first aid supplies. 2 long hours passed before a helicopter could transfer Malala to a military doctor who attempted to save her life with a 5-hour operation. She fought off a severe infection, survived a plane ride to state-of-the-art facilities in England, and finally awoke from a 7-day coma. As one of Malala’s doctors, Dr. Javid Kayani, comments, “The fact that she didn’t die on the spot or very soon thereafter is to my mind nothing short of miraculous.”

Malala continued to fight. She fought to relearn to walk. She fought to relearn to smile and laugh, as the severed nerve paralyzed her face. She endured additional surgeries and learned to cope with the trauma of the attack. On her 16^th birthday, Malala showed the world her resolve when she spoke at the United Nations, declaring, “I am the same Malala.” “Let us pick up our books and our pens,” she urged the audience, “they are our most powerful weapons; education is the only solution.” Malala refused to let the attack silence her or her cause. She fought through her recovery and courageously chose to carry forward as an education activist, a spokeswoman of peace, and a beacon of hope for the world. 

Learn More:

Check out the below video to watch Diane Sawyer’s 20/20 special on Malala, “Unbreakable: One Girl Changing the World.” Also, read through some of the articles linked below to learn more about this amazing, inspiring girl that has been referred to as “Pakistan’s Mother Theresa.”

Breaking News

Articles:

• Michel Martin, NPR: "Malala Yousafzai: A 'Normal,' Yet Powerful Girl."
• Anup Kaphle, The Washington Post: "Malala Yousafzai speaks defiantly in support of education for girls around the world."
• Adam Ellick, The New York Times: "My 'Small Video Star' Fights for Her Life"
• Brian Jones, Business Insider: "16-year-old Malala Yousafzai Leaves John Stewart Speechless with Comment about Pacifism." (with video of Malala on Stewart's Daily Show)

For more, click the below picture of Malala’s book to purchase it on Amazon... If you have a chance to read it, post a comment and let us know what you think!