It’s only fitting that when Malala Yousafzai had learned that she was to be the newest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize she was sitting in her chemistry class, one inquisitive teenager among the rest.
2014 Co-Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai
When the Taliban rode into her hometown of the Swat Valley in Pakistan exclaiming that girls would not be allowed to attend school Malala took action. Soon she began to blog for the BBC at the persistence of her father Ziauddin. Mostly concerning the Taliban’s ban on books, television and most of all the banning of women being educated.
Her activism grew from a pseudonym-laden writer creating blog posts for the BBC Urdu page to openly criticizing attempts made by the Taliban to ban Pakistani girls from their education on national and international media. As her fame grew so did the bounty on her head.
On October 9th, 2012 a Taliban gunmen tried to end Malala’s life placing a bullet that sailed through the left side of her head and into her shoulder. Airlifted in critical condition soon the world learned about one girls attempt to end unlawful oppression.
Many world leaders condemned the attacks. President Barack Obama called the attack “reprehensible, disgusting and tragic”. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon echoed these comments by stating the attacks were a “heinous and cowardly act”
Malala’s first speech after the attacks were to the UN general assembly on July 12th, 2013 who aptly dubbed the event “Malala Day” This speech led to the first ever youth takeover of the UN where Malala was joined by 500 other youth education activists calling for the protection and perpetuation of youth education around the world.
Malala Yousafzai addresses the United Nations Photo: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
On winning the Nobel Peace Prize Malala said “My message to children all around the world is that they should stand up for their rights.” she went on to add “I felt more powerful and more courageous because this award is not just a piece of metal or a medal you wear or an award you keep in your room. This is encouragement for me to go forward”
Malala’s story has landed comfortably among Americans. She has spent time on national media telling her story of hope and the promise of education. Her presence brought heavy emotions to even the likes of comedian Jon Stewart who fell speechless during their interview on his flagship Comedy Central program “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”
The annual Swedish award has been bestowed on the likes of US Presidents, The Dalai Lama, and Mother Teresa. And now Malala Yousafzai can be counted among them as an individual that can be classified as a pioneer and innovator of what’s ahead for humanity. And if all goes well future pioneers of peace can also learn that they’ll be counted among the greatest while sitting in chemistry class.
