Congratulations to Malala Yousafzai on the Nobel Peace Prize

We at Girls Succeed! are jumping for joy since hearing the news that Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in speaking up for girls who have no voice in their society.

The Nobel Peace Prize is an auspicious award and recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions in peace. Malala is the first person from the country of Pakistan to receive the award and the youngest person to receive it.

Image from Glamour Magazine. Photo by Brigitte Lacombe

Malala Yousafzai was in the news two years ago when she was shot by the Taliban for insisting on going to school. She stood up in her bus and declared girls should be able to get an education. She was hospitaized and had a long, painful recovery from the wound, but she has come on strong on the world stage bringing awareness to education for girls around the world.

What an amazing young woman. Congratulations, Malala!

For more articles about Malala, check out these links in Girls Succeed!

July 2013 Malala Speaks to the World

http://girlssucceed.blogspot.com/2013/07/malala-yousafzai-speaks-to-world.html

October 2013 Update on Malala, the Girl from Pakistan http://girlssucceed.blogspot.com/2013/10/update-on-malala-girl-from-pakistan.html

November 2013 Malala Update Receiving the Women of the Year Award http://girlssucceed.blogspot.com/2013/11/update-on-malala.html

Update on Malala

Image from Glamour Magazine. Photo by Brigitte Lacombe

Malala Yousafzai  is the girl from Pakistan who stood up to fierce terrorists, the Taliban, who shot her in the head and neck to silence her. She fought back determined to live and carry her message of education for girls and rights for women to the world. She has rocked the world with her bravery and courage. Because of her bringing awareness to the plight of so many girls in the world who have no rights to education, Glamour magazine recognized her as one of their Women of the Year 2013.

Kudos to Glamour magazine for honoring her and  supporting education for girls worldwide.

To learn more about Malala's story, read a previous post on this blog.

Update on Malala, the Girl from Pakistan

Malala

Photo from CNN.com

ABC News Diane Sawyer devoted an entire hour to the story of Malala Yousafzai, the girl who defied the Extremist Taliban. She was the girl who spoke up and brought awareness to the plight of 15 million girls in Pakistan who could not get an education. The Taliban did not want girls to go to school, so they thought they would get rid of Malala and stop girls from getting an education. Instead, by shooting Malala while she was riding on the bus to school, they have created even more girls who are fighting to receive an education and to make the world a better place for all of us.

Sawyer reported the miracles that occurred to keep Malala alive after the shooting and to bring her back from the dead. Her recovery was slow and painful, but she is doing well and is spreading the word about education for girls worldwide.

Malala was a candidate to receive the Nobel prize for being a spokesperson for education and peace, but she was not chosen. Below is a link to a video at abcNews with reactions from school girls in Pakistan. I'm sure girls everywhere would feel the same as they do.

VIDEO:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/malalas-nobel-loss-disappoints-school-girls-pakistan/story?id=20542676

“Never doubt that 

a small group of 

thoughtful, committed citizens 

can change the 

world. Indeed, it is 

the only thing that 

ever has.”

 -Margaret Mead

People for Peace

I am not sharing Malala's story to encourage girls to risk their lives, but I am sharing it to make girls who are fortunate to have the opportunity to gain an education to actually appreciate what we have. Perhaps they too will be inspired by Malala's actions to make the world a safer place filled with peace for everyone.

Malala Yousafzai Speaks to the World

Malala Yousafzai is an extraordinary 16-year-old girl who has changed the world. This is a true story of a girl from Pakistan who stood up to fierce terrorists, the Taliban, who shot her in the head and neck to silence her. She fought back determined to live and carry her message of education for girls and rights for women to the world. The Taliban, a group of extremists, use force to get their way. They do not want women to have any rights and freedom. Malala changed that.

Because of her brave act of resistance to the Taliban, according to CNN.com, girls in her community have been emboldened to continue their education. Instead of shutting up Malala, she is now speaking up against the repression of women and appealing to the world's nations to educate the girls in their countries. In fact, Malala spoke to those nations at the United Nations today on her 16th birthday.

Video from Telegraph.com.uk

In her speech to the countries of the world gathered at the United Nations in New York City, she said "Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons," Malala urged. "One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first." --abcnews.com

Malala is a beacon to all girls and to all women to follow her lead to demand schooling for girls and the rights for every woman in the world.