Very few teenagers could boast of what 16-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzal, has achieved in her short life. The United Nations has declared July 12 – the day Malala addressed the U.N. – as Malala Day as a tribute to the brave teenager who was shot in the head by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, described her as “our hero, our champion” while the former British prime minister and now UN education envoy, Gordon Brown, said “the words the Taliban never wanted her to hear: happy 16th birthday, Malala.”
In a powerful speech, Malala, who after countless surgeries in Britain and nine months after her shooting, said: “They thought that the bullet would silence us. But they failed.”
Malala’s story began last October when a Taliban gunman shot her as she rode home on a bus after school. The Taliban aim was to silence her and her campaigns in favour of girls’ education. Malala showed exceptional courage even when she was only 11 when she asked the US special representative to Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, to use his powers to combat the Taliban’s drive against education for girls. The South African Noble laurette, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, nominated her for the international children’s peace prize when she was 14, and by 15 she became the youngest Nobel peace prize nominee in history.
Such global attention has come with a price as death threats followed and on October 9 2012, the Taliban succeeded in temporarily silencing her by shooting her.
Amazingly she is not even seeking revenge against those who shot her, the Taliban. “I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me, I would not shoot him,” she told her audience.
“The extremists are afraid of books and pens,” Malala continued. “The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them.”
In a direct reference to Taliban’s campaigns, which, they claim, are in the name of Islam, Malala said: “The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits. Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Islam says that it is not only each child’s right to get education, rather it is their duty and responsibility.”
“Let us pick up our books and pens,” she said. “They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution.”
“Stand with Malala petition” advocating education for the world’s 57 million children worldwide who cannot attend school has collected four million signatures.
This courageous teenager has delivered a powerful message to the world, putting political leaders to shame. We only hope that world leaders will listen to her important message of child education.
As one observers said: “That speech was far better than any most politicians could give, let alone write. She is 16 years old today.. SIXTEEN!
“Can you just imagine what she’ll be doing in 10, 20 years time??? She is already at a level that people like Gandhi and Madiba were only getting to by middle age.”
I can see a bright future for Malala ahead, definitely not only becoming a world advocate for child education, but also embracing a successful career in any decision-making process. As one columnist said, “the Taliban wanted Malala’s silence, but gave her a megaphone instead.” She will use that megaphone to promote children’s education around the world.
