Education for Everyone

Think of your favorite hobby - it could be singing, painting, playing sports, playing an instrument; anything. Now imagine that is being taken away from you. And you aren't going to be getting it back anytime soon. You can't sit there and do nothing about it. Malala felt that pain when she was being robbed of education, the thing she valued the most.

My first blog is about arguably the most famous teenager of recent times, Malala Yousafzai. Being a blog writer herself, she had a near-death experience and is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In just a mere span of four years, Malala has entitled herself with a great name.

With the new school year starting, I think of other girls like Malala. Those who are like me but struggle to receive education, something I take for granted. We are just separated by some circumstances and less than a day's flight, but there are so many differences!

Malala Yousafzai is a 16 year old Pakistani student, Education Rights activist, and Women's Rights activist from Swat Valley. She loves to learn about anything and everything. That is the main reason why she took action against Taliban. They took control of Swat Valley and were banning many girls’ schools, including hers.

In early 2009, Malala wrote a blog for BBC News Channel. She was specifically sharing about how life was under Taliban rule and her views on promoting education for girls. Malala began to gain popularity, so the New York Times newspaper filmed a documentary on her. She appeared on TV, went for interviews, so people were beginning to think that she could really make a difference. She took a position as chairperson of the District Child Assembly Swat. Wow, I think "what courage! She was extremely brave to pull off something like that and even right under Taliban's nose.”

Things were going great for Malala and her word was being spread. However, Taliban couldn't stand that a teenage girl was in their way of establishing their extreme views. They decided to give her a harsh punishment and set out to kill her. In October of 2012, Malala was shot in the head in an assassination attempt by a Taliban gunman.

As destiny had it, Malala has not only survived, but is on her path to full recovery to take her movement forward. Now, she is the winner of 2013 International Children's Peace Prize and the youngest nominee in history for the Nobel Peace Prize. As the winner of Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize, she really has power to change something in her homeland and worldwide.

In the April 2013 issue of Time Magazine, Malala was featured on the front cover as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World" She was invited to the July session of United Nations and was greeted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"By targeting Malala, extremists showed what they feared the most: a girl with a book," Mr. Ki-moon said.“Malala is calling on us to keep our promises - invest in young people and put education first.”

At the U.N. Youth Assembly, Malala urged world leaders to provide free, compulsory education for every child.

“Let us pick up our books and our pens,” Malala told young leaders. "They are our most powerful weapons.“

Rattled by the outpouring support Malala has been getting over the world, a Taliban commander has written a letter that stops short of an outright apology and justifies their actions and asking her to return to Pakistan.

"You have said in your speech yesterday that pen is mightier than sword," Rasheed wrote in reference to Malala's speech at the U.N., "so they attacked you for your sword not for your books or school.“

Still, Malala’s clear message is that she wants every child to have access to education, and wants young girls to be empowered. She is the beacon of hope for many girls worldwide. Her story has inspired me to do something for the same cause. I, as an active Girl Scout, strive to make a difference, like Malala has. Through Girl Scouts, the fellow members of my troop and I plan to donate 100+ books to the Sharks Foundation's book drive, "Reading Is Cool"

I'm sure there that there are many inspired souls that have now taken initiative to support Malala's vision.

One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. -Malala Yousafzai