Malala the Powerful

    In January 2009, the Taliban ordered all girls’ schools to close. That included Malala’s school, which her father owned. 

    It was very upsetting news. School was one of the most important parts of Malala’s life, and she knew how lucky she was. After all, fewer than half the girls who lived in Pakistan’s countryside had a chance to go to school.

    Malala’s father made the dangerous decision to keep his school open. So Malala and her classmates stopped wearing their school uniforms. They hid their books under their clothing. Staying alive meant that going to school had to be top secret.

    Malala was scared—and angry. Was there anything she could do to fight back?

    In January 2009, the Taliban gave an order. They said all schools for girls had to close. That included Malala’s school. Her father owned it. 

    School was important to Malala. She knew she was lucky. In Pakistan’s countryside, many girls did not have the chance to go to school. 

    Malala’s father did not follow the order. He kept his school open. It was a dangerous decision. Malala and her classmates knew going to school had to be a secret. They stopped wearing their school uniforms. They hid their books under their clothing as they walked to school. They did these things to stay alive. 

    Malala was scared. She was also angry. She wanted to fight back. But how?

    In January 2009, the Taliban ordered all girls’ schools to close, including Malala’s school, which her father owned. 

    The news was deeply upsetting to Malala, who placed a high value on education. Fewer than half the girls who lived in Pakistan’s countryside had the opportunity to go to school, so Malala knew she was very fortunate.

    Malala’s father made the dangerous decision to defy the Taliban and keep his school open. In order to stay alive, the students had to keep their activities top secret. So Malala and her classmates stopped wearing their school uniforms, and they hid their books beneath their clothing.

    Malala was scared and angry—but was there anything she could do to fight back?

    Malala realized she had her own weapon. It was her voice. It was powerful. She would risk everything to use it. 

    In 2009, she began writing a blog. That’s an online diary. Anyone can read it. Malala used a pseudonym—a fake name. She wrote about her life under the Taliban. She wrote that she was afraid. “On my way from school to home I heard a man saying, ‘I will kill you,’” she wrote.

    People all over the world read her blog. They were shocked by what the Taliban were doing.

    As it turned out, Malala had her own powerful weapon: her voice. And she would risk everything to use it.

    In 2009, using a pseudonym, Malala began writing for a British blog. She described the hardships of her life under Taliban control. She wrote about her dream of becoming a doctor one day and her fear of the terrorists. “On my way from school to home I heard a man saying, ‘I will kill you,’” she wrote.

    The blog was an instant hit. People all over the world were reading it—and learning what was happening in Swat.

    In May 2009, the Pakistani army attacked the Taliban in Swat. The conflict lasted for three months. 

    Things seemed safer after that. So Malala went on television. She said she was the famous blogger. She gave speeches. Her message: All children deserve an education. 

    In 2010, Malala started finding notes under her door. They ordered her to stop her crusade. But she did not stop. In October 2012, the Taliban shot her. 

    Malala was flown to a hospital in England. Her family soon joined her. The Taliban said they had done the shooting. They said it was a warning to other girls in Pakistan. The Taliban did not want them to act like Malala. 

    But people around the world weren’t scared. They continued Malala’s fight. They marched for education. Many of them were kids. They carried signs that read “I Am Malala.”

    In May 2009, the Pakistani army finally launched an attack against the Taliban in Swat. Malala and her family, along with millions of others, escaped to the south. After three months, the conflict was over, and it was safe to go home. 

    Not long after, Malala began an attack of her own. She came forward as the famous blogger. She appeared on television, and she gave powerful speeches to Pakistani children. Her message: All children deserve the chance to get an education. 

    But in 2010, notes began appearing under Malala’s door, ordering her to give up her crusade—or else. Malala refused to back down, and in October 2012, the Taliban shot her. 

    Malala was flown to a hospital in England that treats serious brain injuries, and her family soon joined her there. Meanwhile, the Taliban spoke out, declaring that the shooting was a warning to other girls not to follow Malala’s example. 

    But people around the world refused to be intimidated, and they continued Malala’s fight. Protesters marched, many of them kids carrying signs that read “I Am Malala.”

    It’s been a little more than seven years since the shooting. Malala survived, and her family stayed in England. There, Malala got the one thing she always wanted: an education. 

    About 130 million girls around the world do not attend school. Often it is because they must work to earn money for their families. Sometimes it is because they have no school to go to. In 2014, Malala started the Malala Fund, a group that is working to change that.

    Today, Malala is a student at Oxford University in England. She isn’t sure what career path she will choose. But she knows she will keep fighting for girls and women: “If one girl with an education can change the world, just imagine what 130 million can do.”

    The shooting happened about seven years ago. Malala survived. She and her family stayed in England. There, Malala got what she always wanted: an education. 

    About 130 million girls around the world do not go to school. Many of them must work. They have to earn money for their families. Others have no school to go to. In 2014, Malala started the Malala Fund. This group works to help all girls go to school.

    Today, Malala goes to college in England. She hasn’t picked a career path. But she knows she will keep fighting for girls and women. “If one girl with an education can change the world, just imagine what 130 million can do,” she says”

    Malala survived the shooting, which was more than seven years ago. She and her family remained in England, where Malala was able to get the one thing she always wanted: an education. 

    Approximately 130 million girls around the world do not attend school. The circumstances that prevent these girls from getting an education vary. Many of the girls have to work instead to earn money to support their families. For other girls, the obstacle is that they have no school to go to. 

    In 2014, Malala started the Malala Fund, an organization that works to make education possible and accessible for all girls.

    Today, Malala is a student at Oxford University in England. Although she is still deciding on a career path, she feels certain that she will continue fighting for the rights of girls and women: 

    “If one girl with an education can change the world,” Malala says, “just imagine what 130 million can do.”