Let's Talk Malala Yousafazi and The Malala Fund

(Every Wednesday I share a Blog Post about a Woman (or women), a Woman who inspires, creates and motivates. I'm all for anything that celebrates women, especially other women who do so. I always find myself talking about female role models and the awareness, challenge, campaign or company for or founded by women with my friends. So I've decided to lead by example, and dedicate Wednesday Blog Posts to Women and all their greatness. If there is someone you would Love to see in a Woman Wednesday Blog post, get in touch and let us know their story. Thank you) 

This Wednesday, Let's Talk About Malala Yousafazi and The Malala Fund. 

Most of us know the story of Malala Yousafazi, a schoolgirl, shot in the head by the Taliban, who survived and sought refuge in the U.K. The book 'I am Malala' sits on many bookshelves across the globe and gives an insight into Malala's life, the incident that nearly killed her and how her life changed, but goals didn't. If you do not own or haven't heard of this book it is a must read!

If you're unaware of Malala's backstory, here is a brief history:

• 1997: Malala is born in Mingora Pakistan, her father (Ziauddin, and educator) promises she will have an education and be treated as an equal. 
• 2017: The Taliban militants take control of the Swat Valley (where the Yousafazi family live)
• 2018: The Taliban ban girls from going to school
• 2018: Malala begins blogging for the BBC about life under the Taliban rule, using a pen name 'Gui Makai' in order to protect her identity
• 2009: The Pakistani army moves in the Swat Valley and fighting commences, the Yousafazi family were one of many to flee to other parts of the country
• 2009: Malala and Ziauddin Yousafazi appear in a documentary about the fight to protect girl's education in Swat, for the New York Times (Class Dismissed: The Death of Female Education !Warning! Contains, distressing and graphic content!)
• 2011: The Pakistani army force the Taliban to retreat to rural areas outside Mingora
• 2011: Ziauddin's school reopens and Malala publicly campaigns for girls to go to school and wins Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize
• 2012: Malala is targeted by the Taliban, masked gunman boards the school bus and shoots her in the head, neck and shoulder, two of her school friends were also injured, Malala is in a critical condition and gets transported to the UK for treatment
• 2013: after multiple months of rehab Malala is able to leave the hospital and rejoin her family now located in Birmingham UK, after a few months Malala has her first day in an English school
• 2013: The U.N. declare July 12th 'Malala Day' and Malala pledges to shine the spotlight on the worlds most vulnerable girls on this day

From then on Malala has made a continuous effort to speak out for girls education across the globe, her campaign has led to founding the Malala Fund, an organization set up by Malala and Ziauddin Yousafazi to advocate, invest and amplify girl's education and their stories. The Malala fund helps to make sure girls do not miss out on secondary school education (something we all take for granted), They prioritise certain countries including Pakistan (Malala's native country), Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and countries housing Syrian refugees. 

malalafund.org

Malala has met with heads of state and world leaders, has received celebrity support and endorsement, and travelled to meet and talk with refugees across the globe. Malala has been the voice for many vulnerable girls who are prevented from going to school due to child marriage, violence, poverty and more, her message is clear, all girls should have an education, all girls should go to school #YesAllGirls.

 Malala became the Youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 (sharing the honour with Indian children's activist Kailash Satyarthi). As well as building the future of many vulnerable girls and working to keep them in education, Malala was still focused on her own education, Malala now attends Oxford University studying philosophy, politics and economics.

The Malala Fund is a brilliant organisation helping girls out of conflict, child marriage and child labour into a classroom, providing them with the education and resources for a better life. It's appalling that 130 million girls are still out of education, the work the Malala Fund continues to do is very important! You can check out their work and see how you can get involved and help by visiting the Malala Fund website or Blog, you can also check their Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you to Malala and Ziauddin Yousafazi,
Thank you for reading
xo