Malala Yousafzai: A Story of Courage and Strength

Born in Swat Valley, Pakistan. Daughter to local education activist, Ziauddin Yousafzai and Toor Pekai Yousafzai. No one could even fathom what the girl would grow up to be. This is the story of that girl. This is the story of Malala...

On July 12th, 1997, a girl named Malala was born in the valley of Swat. She grew up along with two younger brothers, Khushal and Atal. She was an ordinary girl of the valley although gifted with a lot of abilities recognized early on. At the age of ten, Malala could already speak Urdu, Pashto as well as English. 

But all of that changed in 2007 when the Taliban Fundamentalist Army took control of the area. Putting into motion strict rules like banning television and dance but most importantly they decided that girls couldn’t go to school and women were not to be seen in public places such as markets. 

The Taliban destroyed several schools and institutions for girls, threatened locals and the extremism so far to the point that beheaded bodies on the streets became a daily sighting. But all of that didn’t stop Malala. In fact, inspired by her family, she started giving speeches defending the right of education for each girl. She also participated in several programs to help students across the region and even made an appearance in Pakistani media. All of this attention made her a massive target for the radical extremists in the area.

In 2009, BBC Pakistan was looking for a student in the Swat valley to write a blog for their web explaining in excruciating detail what it was like living under the influence of the Taliban. Malala shared her story with the rest of the world under the pen name Gul Makai meaning corn flower. But eventually all of this attention made her the target of the Taliban.

In 2012, Malala boarded the school bus on the way to her school, talking about homework with her friends when suddenly a man stepped in the bus and called for Malala by name. She was shot three times, once in the forehead. The bus driver notified the locals immediately and she was transported to a hospital in Peshawar through a helicopter. Against all odds Malala had survived and was transported to a hospital in the UK all thanks to the UAE government for providing a jet so that she could be transported comfortably and quickly. 

In the UK, Malala received classes and began a new life. Her story made it to the news, making her a symbol of peace and education. In 2013, Malala spoke for the United Nations and published her biography ‘I Am Malala’. She also managed to make her own foundation called ‘Malala Fund’ to help other child  victims.

Her biggest achievement yet came in 2014 when she became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts towards helping children around the world acquire the right to education.

The part that most people find so incredible is that despite of the trauma and suffering she has gone through, Malala never conveyed feelings of anger or vengeance towards her wrongdoers. That is what people find her so inspiring. Anyone who has gone through suffering thinks of vengeance but only a few think about helping other victims who have gone through the same suffering.

Recently Malala Yousafzai graduated from Oxford with a degree in Philosophy and Politics and still continues to fight for the right that every child deserves, an education.