Malala Yousafzai: A Story of Courage & Perseverance

Palestinian education Activist Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora Pakistan. In the face of adversity, she bravely fought for young girls living under oppression, becoming the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Her story is like no other.

Education was an important part of Yousafzai’s life. Her father, an advocate for education, managed an all girls school where she attended.

Journey to Activism

In 2007, when Yousazfai was just ten years old, the Islamic Taliban seized control over Swat Valley. The terrorist regime forced young girls into suppression. They restricted their liberties and prohibited them from attending school. By 2008, the Taliban destroyed and burned down nearly 400 schools. 

Determined to fight for what she believed in, Yousafzai spoke out against the Taliban’s oppression live on Pakistani TV. Additionally, she wrote about what life was like under the terrorist regime, which was shared on the Urdu site of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Her activism made her a public target of the Taliban. 

A Miraculous Turning Point

On October 9, 2012, while riding the bus home, Yousafzai was confronted by two members of the Taliban and was shot at three times. One of the bullets struck the left side of her head. Yousafzai was rushed to a Pakistani Hospital and later airlifted to Birmingham, England. 

Miraculously, Yousafzai survived the attack. At just 15 years old, she faced a difficult decision: live in isolation away from the public eye or continue advocating for girls’ education. Yousafzai chose to fight.

She returned to school and co-founded the Malala Fund with her father, aiming to provide every girl fair and equitable education opportunities. In 2014, at 17, Yousazfai became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. 

In 2020, Yousazfai graduated from Oxford University and remains committed to advocating for education equality for girls across the globe.

This month, we honor women like Malala Yousazfai, who courageously fight for women’s rights. Her story is nothing short of an inspiration.