Malala Yousafzai: Pakistani Activist for Female Education
Fighting for Education If you’ve never had to worry about being able to go to school it’s easy to take it for granted to complain about homework boring teachers and annoying fellow students However millions of kids around the world don’t have the opportunity to get an education and all of the benefits that result from it Girls in particular are often prevented from going to school or even forbidden One of the best-known advocates of education education for girls is a young Pakistani woman named Malala Yousafzai Malala started speaking out in defense of girls education when she was just eleven after the Taliban a fundamentalist Islamic group seized power in the part of Pakistan where she lived and ordered all girls schools closed She refused to 4
be silenced even after she was shot in 2012 Malala’s courage has inspired people around the world She used her fame for a good cause setting up the Malala Fund to support girls education Malala Yousafzai is an inspiration to people all around the world Millions look up to her for her courage persistence intelligence and honesty
Life in Mingora Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12 1997 in Mingora the largest city in Pakistan’s Swat District District Swat is in northwestern Pakistan It is the upper valley of the Swat River The area is known for its gorgeous gorgeous scenery dramatic mountains clear air lush meadows meadows and fast-flowing rivers Its natural beauty made Swat a popular destination for tourists Malala’s father Ziauddin and her mother Tor Pekai are from Shangla a village in the mountains of Swat They moved to Mingora after they got married Ziauddin founded the Khushal School in Mingora He had to work hard and the school made little money in the beginning but he believed deeply in the importance of education Ziauddin also believed in the value of girls He ignored customs that favored sons over daughters For example only males are traditionally listed on family trees in Pakistan But Ziauddin broke with tradition and included Malala’s name 6
The Swat Valley is known for its dramatic landscapes It is home to a diverse mix of plants and animals The region is also famous for its delicious fruits and beautiful handicrafts
