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

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.