Malala Yousafzai

Hello. My name is Malala Yousafzai, and I want to share my story with you. I grew up in a beautiful place called Swat Valley in Pakistan. It was full of tall mountains and green fields. My favorite place in the whole world was school. My father, Ziauddin, was a teacher and he ran the school, so I got to go every day. Learning felt like magic to me. Holding a pencil and writing my name felt powerful, like I could do anything. I loved reading books and learning new things about science and the world. When I grew up, I dreamed of becoming a doctor to help people who were sick, or maybe an inventor who created amazing new things. My school was a happy place where my friends and I could laugh, learn, and dream about our futures. It was the most important part of my day, and I wished every child could feel the same way about learning as I did.

Then one day, everything changed. Some men called the Taliban came to our valley. They had very strict rules and believed that life should be a certain way. One of their rules was that girls were no longer allowed to go to school. Can you imagine that. My heart felt so heavy and sad. It was not fair. I believed that every girl deserved a chance to learn, just like the boys. School wasn't just about books; it was about our dreams. I couldn't stay silent. I knew I had to use my voice to tell the world what was happening. So, on January 3rd, 2009, I started writing a secret blog. I wrote about my life and how much I missed my classroom. I shared my hope that one day, all girls in my valley would be able to return to their desks. I said, “They can take away our pens and books, but they cannot stop our minds from thinking.” I wanted everyone to know that our education was worth fighting for.

I kept speaking up for the right of girls to learn, and some people did not like that. On October 9th, 2012, a day I will never forget, I was riding the school bus home with my friends. Suddenly, some men who disagreed with my ideas stopped our bus. They hurt me very badly because they wanted to silence my voice. The next thing I remember is waking up in a hospital. I was very confused because I was not in Pakistan anymore; I was in a country called England. I was scared, but the doctors and nurses were so kind to me. They helped me feel safe. Soon, something amazing happened. I started getting thousands of letters and cards from children all over the world. They told me they were thinking of me and that I was brave. Those messages were like sunshine, giving me the strength to get better. They made me realize I was not alone in my fight.

After I recovered, I realized that what happened to me had not silenced me. Instead, it made my voice louder than ever before. People all over the world now wanted to hear what I had to say. On my 16th birthday, July 12th, 2013, I was invited to give a speech at a very important place called the United Nations. I was nervous, but I spoke from my heart for all the children who could not speak for themselves. With my father, I started the Malala Fund to help girls everywhere get the education they deserve. Then, on December 10th, 2014, I received a very special award called the Nobel Peace Prize. I was so proud. My story shows that you are never too young to make a difference. Always remember what I learned: one child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Your voice matters, so always use it to speak for what is right.