The Taliban shot Malala Yousafzai in the head last October for having the temerity to expect unfettered access to education. Support for Malala poured in, and the Malala Fund was launched with the support of Vital Voices in November, 2012. Today, on Malala's 16th birthday, the fund became an independent organization and launched a new website created with NationBuilder.
Over 600 students met at the United Nations to celebrate Malala Day and to encourage world leaders to support the human right to education. The day began with Malala's first public speech since being shot. She addressed the youth delegates, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, UN General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic and UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown. The speech is incredibly powerful and inspiring. It is incredible to know that after all she's faced, Malala is not bitter, but rather more focused than ever on achieving her goal of education for all, especially for girls and women.
As Grace Hwang Lynch pointed out on BlogHer, here's how Malala described being shot:
"They thought that a bullet would silence us, but they failed. Out of the silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aim and stop my ambition but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born."
You can watch her entire speech below.
May we all have the courage to follow our passion as courageously as Malala Yousafzai. You can join the Malala Fund nation to make girls' education a true priority.
