For Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, she was learning about electrolysis in her chemistry class. Oh, and she was told that she was the youngest person ever to win the world's highest honor.
Malala Yousafzai,17, is sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with an Indian man. It's a pretty big deal. The Nobel Peace Prize goes to the person who has made the biggest impact globally on bringing humankind together and actually doing something worthwhile.
She's 17 now, but a few years ago she was speaking out about increasing education for girls in Pakistan when a Taliban member, who was not keen on letting women do terrible things like read and being allowed to talk in public, shot Malala in the head.
Thankfully, she survived, and today she continues to advocate for girls worldwide to get quality education and equal rights. Ladies: Like being able to read this and speak publicly about this issue? Unlike Americans, many women throughout the world can't do this.
She is sharing the award with Kailash Satyarthi, who is advocating against child labor in third world countries.
I want you to read a speech she gave last year to a delegation at the United Nations. Then in the comment field below. write a well thought-out comment describing your reaction to her story and speech and what you can do to help improve the world around you much like Malala has done.
Not to make you feel bad, but as a 15-, 16-, or 17-year-old, what have you done lately to make the world suck less?
Her biography
An in-depth article about her
Her first speech on wining the Nobel Peace Prize - did I mention she donated her $50,000 prize to help rebuild schools in Gaza destroyed by the conflict there? Yeah, that's a thing.
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ReplyDeleteI honor Malala Yousafzai's dedication towards increasing education for girls. This has got to be one of the best speeches I have read. I feel that in this generation, in the U.S, kids take their education for granted but little to they know, people around the world of the same age are having a hard time receiving education. Women in Malala's nation have been looked down upon and thankfully, Malala stood up and fought for what she thought was right. To improve the world, I have to start becoming aware of the major happenings around the world and tell my friends about it. I can also start taking my studies seriously and maybe others can follow me too.
ReplyDeleteI think her story is incredible. It's amazing how she persevered and spoke up for rights during a time when many of the women in Pakistan probably weren't speaking out. In her speech she mostly talked about the change she wanted to make happen, and she didn't really talk about herself that much. I can help improve the world by helping to raise awareness about human-trafficking in teenage girls, and about teen dating violence.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction toward Malala's speech is agreeable because she is using her noble peace prize and sharing it with another man to help the kids in Pakistan and to help rebuild schools in Gaza. She wants kids to have their rights and have a good education. She wants the kids to learn. She believes kids should stand up for their rights.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would do to help around the world like Malala is make sure that kids who don't have a education, a meal to eat everyday and the support they need to make sure they do have all that. I believe that everybody should be healthy and a good relationship toward everyone else.
I think that Malala's story is very inspiring to the youth, especially today. She shows people what you can do when you are determined to accomplish something. Education is vital in future success, and as she said, she has dreams just like any other kid, and wanted her education. I think that this shows how important education is and maybe the youth of today will be more grateful for what they have that others may not. What I can do to improve the world around me is being a good role model and start recycling programs and things like that to help the planet. I've made the world suck less by helping my church and feeding homeless people in some of my spare time. No, I never got paid for it, nor have I gotten community service hours, but it felt good to help people out of the kindness of your heart. :)
ReplyDeleteamazing story, even when she took a bullet to the head instead of giving up she still continued to fight for what she believe is right and should be fair. I love how humble she is during all of this and doesn't let the award go to her head and instead of accepting the award and do nothing afterwards she is continuing her fight women and children while ending tense between India and Pakistan. Very motivational.
ReplyDeleteThrough her speech, I found Malala as a very humble person. I really like that she is humble.This made me some what motivated because she is a person who is trying to reach her goals in life and isn't gonna let the Taliban get in her way of them. She also states that she is sharing this Nobel peace prize with Kailash Satyarthi but also for the children without good education. Not only she is improving education for india and pakistan, she is also strengthing their relationships. She has made a big impact which is incredible.
ReplyDeleteI feel that she is very inspiring in what she does, Her views are very nobel and I am glad that she has recovered from her injury. I can tell that she was nervous while giving this speech. Aside from the fact that she gave all her money away to the cause she believed in, she also seemed very humble for someone with an honor like the nobel piece prize.I was pleasently surprised by this. If I was in the same situation I can't say I would have done the same thing.As for making a difference, I have't done much to help. I my volunteer here and there but after hearing what she did I really need to step my game up. Baby steps I suppose.
ReplyDeleteIn the place where she lives, women and children barely have rights. They are not provided with the education they need. I admire Malala for her perseverance to give women and children their rights and education. In the U.S., students often take advantage of their education. As a teenager, I doubt that I have or can make a big difference to make the world "suck less". All I can do is be aware of the current events, and inform my friends about it. I also need to start valuing my education more and take it to my advantage at the most.
ReplyDeleteThis young woman is friggin' amazing. I'm positive that this lady has more guts than any other person I've ever met. Demanding and advocating girls' rights to an education, becoming targeted by the Taliban, getting shot in the head, surviving, and continuing to advocate for girls' education takes a lot of courage,GUT and for that I have developed a deep, wholehearted respect for Malala. I doubt that I can change the world as much as her, but I now know that every little thing I do or stand up for can impact the world.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a sad reality, that everyone in the world does not have the same opportunities as Americans and other countries in the free world. Out dated and miss guided ways still are infused with the gov"t of modern societies. As an American I am uplifted by this story because even though this is a reality in her country, my Mother, aunts, sisters, cousins, loved ones, niece can live freely. She talks about how her rights were limited in Pakistan and many things that males could was restricted from women. I believe that Islam can be practiced without condescending its women to such limited rights. This speech is a small step in up lifting middle eastern women from blinded countries who think that in order to practice Islam, we have to restrict women of their god given rights. Hopefully more women will speak out like Malala Yousafzai and liberate the other countries that function this way.
ReplyDeleteMany children here in America are served everything on a silver platter, and that can include their education. For Malala Yousafzai, however, she had to fight for her education, and ended up getting shot because of it. It's amazing how even after this attack on her occurred, she continued to fight on and advocate for children's/women's education, despite what the Taliban may think about it. Her speech to the UN General Assembly proves that she is a well-qualified advocate for children's/women's education, because she doesn't do it just for herself. She is a selfless person, and she even said that she was just one among many who are fighting for the education of all people. Although I probably won't make as big as an impact as she has done, I can take part in giving people the education they deserve by participating in any projects/movements that involve that. I can also raise awareness about the problems of the countries that ban education for many people.
ReplyDeleteI am speechless after reading and listening to Malala speech. The fact that she was only 15 and believed she could make a change and did is amazing! Even after being almost killed, she still continued to fight, i admire that. She is a very determined person with a goal of change. She believes woman and children should have rights and education. As a teenager today, its very hard, even with determination, to make a change in the world. By starting in school, with things such as being in student government and coming up with ideas, is a start to trying to make change in the world. She has inspired me and made me realize how valuable education is and how people take it for granted.
ReplyDeleteMalala Yousafzai life is an inspiration to all people. At the age of 16 , she won a Nobel piece prize. That can inspire young people who wants to make a change ,but is too afraid because they feel that they're not old enough, to be able to do so. Not only did she make that accomplishment but also one day she was shot and could have been killed. She made a miraculous recovery. That can also inspire people who's life is on the line to still have hope that they too can make a good recovery.
ReplyDeleteI believe Malala is an amazing and caring person. I respect her, because she tries so hard to make other people's lives better. She isn't selfish, which is an attribute I commend her for. Most people think only of themselves. She is also very brave for standing up and speaking out. Even after she was shot, she never gave up on her goal to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I haven't really done anything to better the world. I don't have money, I don't have views on politics, or things happening in the world. I obviously now there are things in this world that are terrible, but I don't know how to fix them. I can hardly fix my grades, let alone fix the worlds problems. When I fix my own life, maybe i'll be ready to help other people. It may sound selfish, but what use am I to other people if I can't even help myself?
That is true. But you can also help others as you are helping yourself as well.
DeleteMalala Yousafazai is a very bright and compassionate girl. From having background knowledge on her and now learning about what she continues to do, it is heart-warming and inspiring. I admit that I was very shocked when I learned about her reaction and feelings towards her shooter, expressing that she had no hate for the man. Personally, I thought that she would. But she continues to fight for equal education and child rights around the world, as if the shooting had never happen or put her down, and that shows that negativity in life must not affect the positivity. This also encourages me to do the same as her, and involve myself in organizations and groups to help out the less fortunate. I can not let anything bring me down, as Malala has done, in order to bring joy to others.
ReplyDeleteMalala Yousafazi is simply amazing. She was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban because she stood up for what she believed in. She would rather risk her life to express her views than stay silent and safe. This is the ultimate form of bravery and courage. After a long and hard recovery, Malala remains just as passionate about equal rights as she did before. Although she is just a teenager, Malala has inspired the world like no other. She is the youngest person to share a Nobel Prize and she deserves it. Despite all of her accolades, she is as humble as one could be. Malala inspires me and millions of other people around the world.
ReplyDeleteTo make the world suck less, I try to bring joy to every person I come in contact with.
Malala's story is very inspirational. I am very intrigued by her action and how she speaks. She has a great drive for success and peace. I am excited to see what she does in the mere future.
ReplyDeletei find it very admirable for someone who isnt surrounded by much positivity or support besides her immediate family can be so courageous. Even after getting shot in the head to still support and be so courageous is truly amazing and i tryuly find this to be inspiring and amazing
ReplyDeleteI love what Malala was about education being the key to world peace. You can have all the violence you want but in the end it's going to get you nowhere. O remember reading an interview about her and she said that reacting in violence makes you no better than the threat and I still believe that she is right. Malala has been through so much but at the same time shes still just seventeen year old going through some of the same things that i'm going through and more. Just like Malala , I can help improve the world by helping teach people about the ways of equality, justice, and education through, understanding, being loving, and having peace.
ReplyDeleteThis young woman is incredible. I love how she appreciates the award and is humble about it. She doesn't brag. She acknowledges the man she shares his accomplishments and doesn't downplay it. I find her inspirational and I want to do something important like her. She doesn't give up after her tragic accident and I find that admirable because I probably would've given up.
ReplyDeleteI find her story unique and very different from most peoples. She has really accomplished alot in life, regardless of her environment. She grew up in an area where women are looked down upon and she really overcame that by doing what she had to do.
ReplyDeleteMalala Yousafzai is a real admirable person. Nobody can ever replicate what she did and the way that she did it. Standing up for Girl's education while still being a walking target is remarkable. The fact that she didn't let her being shot get in the head stop her from reaching her goal says something. I honestly think that us being in America makes us take for granted what we have and we should still fight for freedom.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly sad that today woman still don't have the rights that they deserve. Her speaking out has started a great revolution in her country. I am very happy that she was recognized for fighting for female educations. I am very proud of her, it must have been very hard to speak out against her country's beliefs. I hope that in the future her country will change its beliefs and allow equal rights.
ReplyDeleteMalala Yousazai deserves this award because of the situation she was in. She knew she could be killed if she spoke out against the Taliban. She stayed determined to fight for her rights and she wasn't killed in the end.
ReplyDeleteTo me Malala sounds like a normal teenager who is determined to achieve her goal and his very grateful for all the help and support she has received along the way. You asked "what have you done to make the world suck less?" really I haven't done anything other than go to school and do what I'm told like say no to drugs. To me that is enough to make the world around me suck less because I could do the complete opposite and cause so much pain and stress people would start wishing they never met me.
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