Biography of Malala Yousafzai, Age, Height and Education

Credit: abcnews

Serial No.	Detail	Value
1	Full Name	Malala Yousafzai
2	Age	22
3	Height	5’6”
4	Residence	Birmingham, UK
5	Parents	Ziauddin Yousafzai (father), Toor Pekai Yousafzai (mother)
6	Siblings	Atal Yousafzai (elder brother), Khushal Yousafzai (younger brother)
7	Education	Completed secondary education at Edgbaston High School for Girls in Birmingham
8	Awards	Nobel Peace Prize (2014), Sakharov Prize (2013), National Youth Peace Prize (2011)
9	DOB	July 12, 1997
10	Born	Mingora, Pakistan

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   • Background information on Malala Yousafzai
   • Overview of her activism for girls’ education
2. Early Life
   • Childhood in Pakistan
   • Family and cultural influences
   • Initial interest in education advocacy
3. Activism for Girls’ Education
   • Public speaking and media appearances
   • Founding of the Malala Fund
   • Role in the Taliban’s opposition to girls’ education
4. Attempted Assassination
   • Details of the attack
   • Medical treatment and recovery
   • International response
5. Post-Assassination
   • Continuing education advocacy
   • Awards and honors
   • Role as a UN Messenger of Peace
6. Conclusion
   • Summary of Malala’s impact
   • Future plans and goals
   • Legacy and ongoing impact on girls’ education.

 I. Introduction to Malala Yousafzai

A. Background information on Malala Yousafzai

1. Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for girls’ education and women’s rights. Born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan, she is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.

2. Malala grew up in a conservative and traditional Pashtun family and was raised in the Swat Valley region of Pakistan, where she was exposed to the injustices faced by girls who were denied the right to education.

3. From a young age, Malala showed a strong interest in education and was determined to help girls in her community access the same opportunities that she had.

4. In 2009, at the age of 11, Malala began anonymously blogging for the BBC about her life under Taliban rule, using the pseudonym “Gul Makai.”

5. Her writing drew attention to the struggles of girls in the Swat Valley, and she quickly became an advocate for girls’ education.

6. She gained international attention when she survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012 and continued her activism through the Malala Fund, an organization she co-founded to support girls’ education initiatives around the world.

7. Today, Malala is globally recognized for her tireless efforts to promote education for girls and is known for her powerful speeches and media appearances where she advocates for the rights of girls and women.

B. Overview of her activism for girls’ education

1. Malala’s activism for girls’ education began in 2009 when she began anonymously blogging for the BBC about her life under Taliban rule, using the pseudonym “Gul Makai.”

2. Her writing drew attention to the struggles of girls in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban had banned girls from attending school.

3. In 2011, she began public speaking and giving media interviews under her real name, becoming a prominent advocate for girls’ education in Pakistan.

4. In 2012, Malala founded the Malala Fund, an organization that supports local education programs and advocates for policy changes to ensure that girls have access to safe, quality education.

5. Malala has also worked with international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank to promote girls’ education globally.

6. Through her speeches, media appearances, and work with organizations, Malala has brought attention to the issue of girls’ education and has helped to secure funding and resources for education programs in Pakistan and around the world.

7. Her activism has also played an important role in raising awareness about the importance of girls’ education and the role it plays in empowering girls and young women.

II. Early Life of Malala Yousafzai

A. Childhood in Pakistan

Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997, in the Swat District of Pakistan. She grew up in the small town of Mingora, located in the picturesque Swat Valley. Known for its beautiful landscapes, the Swat Valley was also home to a strong tradition of education, particularly for girls.

Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was a prominent educator and political activist who owned a chain of schools in the area. From a young age, Malala was exposed to the importance of education and the power it held to change lives. She was particularly influenced by her father’s work and his belief that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and oppression in Pakistan.

Growing up in Mingora, Malala was surrounded by strong and independent women, including her mother, Toor Pekai Yousafzai, who instilled in her a sense of self-confidence and determination. She was also heavily influenced by her father’s dedication to social justice and his efforts to empower women and girls in the region.

Despite the challenges and obstacles that Malala faced as a young girl growing up in Pakistan, she was determined to make a difference in the world. She was an avid reader and writer from a young age, often keeping a diary to document her thoughts and experiences. These early years would lay the foundation for her future activism and advocacy for girls’ education.

B. Family and cultural influences

Malala’s family played a significant role in shaping her views and values. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was a major influence in her life, instilling in her a passion for education and a desire to make a difference in the world. He encouraged her to speak out against injustice and to always stand up for what she believed in.

Her mother, Toor Pekai Yousafzai, was also a strong influence, instilling in Malala a sense of self-confidence and determination. She was a homemaker and raised Malala and her two brothers. She was a supportive mother and her love and care helped Malala to stay grounded and determined.

Growing up in a culture that placed a high value on tradition and community, Malala was also deeply influenced by the customs and beliefs of her Pashtun heritage. She was raised in a conservative Muslim household and her religious beliefs played a significant role in her activism, particularly in her efforts to promote education for girls.

Malala’s cultural background also played a role in shaping her views on gender equality. Growing up in Pakistan, she witnessed firsthand the discrimination and oppression faced by women and girls, and this experience only strengthened her resolve to fight for their rights.

Overall, Malala’s family and cultural influences played a significant role in shaping her views, values, and activism, and helped to create the determined and passionate young woman who would become an internationally-recognized advocate for girls’ education.

C. Initial interest in education advocacy

Malala’s initial interest in education advocacy began at a young age, influenced by her father’s work as an educator and his belief in the power of education to change lives. She was exposed to the importance of education and the challenges that many children, particularly girls, faced in accessing it.

In 2007, when Malala was just 10 years old, the Taliban began to gain control of the Swat Valley, where she lived. The group imposed strict laws that restricted girls’ access to education, including a ban on girls attending school. This deeply impacted Malala, who was passionate about her own education and saw it as a means to empower herself and others.

In response to the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, Malala began to speak out publicly, advocating for the rights of girls to receive an education. She wrote a blog for the BBC under a pseudonym, describing the challenges she and other girls faced in accessing education under the Taliban’s rule. Through this blog, she spoke about the importance of education for girls and the impact the Taliban’s actions were having on their lives.

As a result of her activism, Malala became a prominent figure in the local community and her father’s schools became a symbol of resistance against the Taliban’s efforts to restrict girls’ education. This experience of witnessing the impact of lack of education on girls and her own passion for education laid the foundation for her future activism and advocacy for girls’ education.

III. Activism for Girls’ Education

A. Public speaking and media appearances

Malala’s activism for girls’ education began to gain national and international attention in 2009, when she started giving public speeches and making media appearances. She spoke at rallies and events, advocating for the rights of girls to receive an education. Her speeches were powerful and moving, and she quickly became a leading voice in the fight against the Taliban’s efforts to restrict girls’ education.

In 2011, Malala was featured in a documentary film, “Class Dismissed,” which followed her and other students in the Swat Valley as they struggled to continue their education despite the Taliban’s ban. The film was widely seen and brought Malala’s story and message to a global audience.

As her fame grew, Malala continued to speak out, giving interviews to major news outlets and even addressing the Pakistani government on the importance of girls’ education. She also used social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to share her message with a wider audience.

Through her public speaking and media appearances, Malala became a powerful and influential advocate for girls’ education. Her speeches and interviews helped raise awareness of the challenges faced by girls in Pakistan and around the world, and her message resonated with people of all ages and backgrounds.

B. Founding of the Malala Fund

In 2013, Malala and her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing girls’ education and empowerment. The organization focuses on providing girls in developing countries with access to quality education, and works to amplify the voices of girls and young women.

The Malala Fund works to achieve its mission by investing in education programs and supporting local education advocates, particularly in countries where girls face significant barriers to education such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. The organization also advocates for policy changes to improve girls’ access to education, and works to raise awareness of the importance of girls’ education through campaigns and partnerships.

One of the major initiatives of the Malala Fund is the “GIRLS’ RIGHT TO EDUCATION” campaign, which focuses on ensuring that girls, especially those living in poverty, have access to a safe, quality and free primary and secondary education.

Through the Malala Fund, Malala has been able to significantly increase her impact and reach, and the organization has become a leading voice in the global movement for girls’ education. The organization has grown significantly since its inception, and has provided education support to millions of girls around the world.

C. Role in the Taliban’s opposition to girls’ education

Malala’s activism and advocacy for girls’ education was met with strong opposition from the Taliban in Pakistan. The group had banned girls from attending school in the Swat Valley, where Malala lived, and viewed her efforts to promote education for girls as a direct threat to their ideology.

In 2012, the Taliban issued death threats against Malala, and targeted her father’s schools with bombings and intimidation. Despite the danger, Malala refused to back down and continued to speak out against the Taliban’s efforts to restrict girls’ education.

Malala’s activism and the support she received from her family and the international community put significant pressure on the Taliban. Her message resonated with people around the world and gained support from governments, organizations, and individuals.

In 2012, the Taliban’s control of the Swat Valley was weakened by a military operation launched by the Pakistani government. As a result, girls’ schools were able to reopen, and Malala’s activism helped to ensure that girls’ education remained a priority in the region.

Malala’s role in opposing the Taliban’s efforts to restrict girls’ education was pivotal in bringing attention to the issue and inspiring action to support girls’ education. Her activism and advocacy played a significant role in improving access to education for girls in the Swat Valley and beyond.

IV. Attempted Assassination

A. Details of the attack on Malala Yousafzai

On October 9, 2012, Malala was targeted for assassination by the Taliban for her activism and advocacy for girls’ education. While returning home from school, Malala was shot in the head and neck by a Taliban gunman while she was on a bus with other students. The attack was carried out in an effort to silence her and intimidate others who supported girls’ education.

The bullet entered through her left eye socket, damaging her skull and brain. She was rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment before being airlifted to a hospital in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, where she underwent multiple surgeries to repair her skull and restore her hearing.

The assassination attempt on Malala sparked international outrage, and she received an outpouring of support from around the world. The attack also brought attention to the dangers faced by activists in Pakistan, particularly those working to promote girls’ education.

The Taliban initially claimed responsibility for the attack, but later tried to distance themselves from it. The shooter was later identified as a Taliban member who had been directed by the group’s leadership to carry out the attack. He was later arrested and convicted of the attempted assassination.

B. Medical treatment and recovery

After the assassination attempt, Malala was rushed to a local hospital in Pakistan for emergency treatment before being airlifted to a hospital in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad. She was in critical condition and required multiple surgeries to repair her skull and restore her hearing.

Malala’s recovery was a long and difficult process. She underwent several surgeries in Pakistan, including one to repair her skull and another to restore her hearing. She was then transferred to the UK for further treatment and rehabilitation.

While in the UK, Malala underwent several more surgeries, including a cochlear implant surgery to restore her hearing. She also received physical therapy and psychological support to help her recover from her injuries and the trauma of the attack.

Despite the severity of her injuries, Malala made a remarkable recovery. She regained her ability to speak and walk, and her cognitive abilities were not affected. She returned to school in 2013 and continued her education.

Throughout her recovery, Malala remained determined and focused on her mission to promote girls’ education. She continued to speak out and advocate for girls’ education, even while she was recovering from her injuries. Her resilience and determination inspired people around the world and served as a reminder of the importance of her message and her mission.

C. International response to Malala Yousafzai

The attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai sparked international outrage and condemnation. The attack was widely covered in the media, and her story and message resonated with people around the world.

The International community, including governments, organizations and individuals, came out in strong support of Malala and her mission to promote girls’ education. Many leaders, including then-US President Barack Obama, issued statements condemning the attack and expressing support for Malala and her efforts to promote girls’ education.

The United Nations also Issued a statement condemning the attack, and the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, launched a “Stand Up for Malala” campaign to support her and her mission.

In addition to the outpouring of support and condemnation, the attack also brought attention to the dangers faced by activists in Pakistan, particularly those working to promote girls’ education. It also highlighted the need for greater efforts to promote and protect the rights of girls and women around the world.

Overall, the international response to the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai was one of strong support and solidarity, and it helped to raise awareness of the importance of girls’ education and the challenges faced by those working to promote it.

V. Post-Assassination

A. Continuing education advocacy.

After surviving the assassination attempt, Malala Yousafzai continued her advocacy for girls’ education. Despite her injuries, she remained determined to continue her mission and continued to speak out about the importance of education for girls.

After her recovery in the UK, Malala returned to school and continued her education. She also continued to speak out and advocate for girls’ education, appearing at events and giving speeches around the world.

In 2013, Malala was invited to speak at the United Nations, where she delivered a powerful speech calling for universal access to education. This speech marked her first public address since the attack and it was well received. Her speech was also covered widely by media and it helped to further amplify her message.

Malala also used her platform to advocate for education in other ways as well. She met with world leaders and education ministers and used her social media presence to raise awareness about the importance of education for girls.

In addition to her public speaking, Malala also continued her work through the Malala Fund, which she had founded with her father. The organization continued to invest in education programs and support local education advocates, particularly in countries where girls face significant barriers to education such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.

Malala’s commitment to education advocacy was unwavering, she continued to fight for the right to education for every child, particularly girls, and her efforts have helped to improve access to education for millions of children around the world.

B. Awards and honors won by Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai has received numerous awards and honors for her activism and advocacy for girls’ education. Some of her most notable awards include:

The International Children’s Peace Prize (2013): Malala was awarded this prize for her work promoting children’s rights, especially the right to education.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (2013): Malala was awarded this prize by the European Parliament for her work promoting human rights, particularly the rights of children.

The Nobel Peace Prize (2014): Malala was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Indian child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi for their work promoting children’s rights, particularly the right to education. Malala became the youngest Nobel laureate, at the age of 17.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014): Malala was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the President of the United States, Barack Obama, in recognition of her work promoting girls’ education.

In addition to these awards, Malala has also been honored with numerous other awards and honors, including honorary degrees from universities around the world and inclusion in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

These awards and honors not only recognize Malala’s achievements, but also amplify her message and help to raise awareness of the importance of girls’ education. They serve as a testament to the impact that one person can have in making a difference in the world.

C. Malala Yousafzai Role as a UN Messenger of Peace

In 2017, Malala Yousafzai was appointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls’ education by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. This role is the highest honor the United Nations can bestow on an individual and it recognizes Malala’s work in promoting girls’ education and women’s rights.

As a UN Messenger of Peace, Malala serves as a global advocate for girls’ education and gender equality. She uses her platform to raise awareness of the importance of education for girls, and the challenges that many girls around the world face in accessing it. She also works to promote the rights of girls and women and advocate for their inclusion in decision-making processes.

In her role as a UN Messenger of Peace, Malala has traveled to countries around the world to meet with girls and young women, hear their stories, and share her own experiences. She has also met with world leaders and education ministers to discuss ways to improve access to education for girls.

In addition to her advocacy work, Malala also works closely with the United Nations and its agencies to support the implementation of programs and initiatives that promote girls’ education and gender equality.

Malala’s role as a UN Messenger of Peace amplifies her message and gives her a global platform to advocate for girls’ education and women’s rights. It serves as a testament to her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of girls and young women around the world.

VI. Conclusion

Summary of Malala’s impact

Malala Yousafzai is a young woman who has made a significant impact on the world through her activism and advocacy for girls’ education. From a young age, she was determined to make a difference in the world and was deeply influenced by her family and cultural background.

As a young girl, Malala witnessed firsthand the discrimination and oppression faced by women and girls in her home country of Pakistan, and this experience only strengthened her resolve to fight for their rights. Her activism and advocacy for girls’ education began in her local community and gained national and international attention through her public speaking and media appearances.

Malala’s activism and advocacy for girls’ education has had a significant impact, particularly in Pakistan where she helped to raise awareness of the challenges that girls face in accessing education and the impact of the Taliban’s efforts to restrict it. Her efforts also helped to ensure that girls’ education remained a priority in the region.

Malala’s activism also had a global impact, her message resonated with people around the world and her advocacy helped to raise awareness of the importance of girls’ education and the challenges that girls around the world face in accessing it. Her work has helped to improve access to education for millions of girls around the wrld.

Malala’s activism has not gone unnoticed, she has been honored with numerous awards and honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize, and appointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. She continues her activism and advocacy for girls’ education and women’s rights, and her impact will be felt for generations to come.

B. Future plans and goals

Malala Yousafzai continues to be actively involved in promoting education for girls and women’s rights. She has completed her secondary education and is currently pursuing higher education. Despite her busy schedule, she continues to be an advocate for girls' education and women's rights through her work with the Malala Fund, and as a UN Messenger of Peace.

One of her major goals is to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to complete 12 years of safe, quality education. She also advocates for increased investment in education and policy changes that will help to improve access to education for girls in developing countries.

Malala also continues to raise awareness about the importance of education for girls and the challenges that they face in accessing it. She uses her platform to amplify the voices of girls and young women, and to highlight their experiences and perspectives.

In addition, she continues to use her platform to advocate for other issues that affect girls and young women, such as gender-based violence and child marriage. And also advocate for the rights of refugees and migrants, and for the rights of all children to access education.

Overall, Malala's future plans and goals are centered around continuing her activism and advocacy for girls' education and women's rights, and working to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to receive a safe, quality education.

C. Legacy and ongoing impact on girls' education.

Malala Yousafzai's legacy is one of courage, determination, and a relentless commitment to promoting girls' education and women's rights. Her activism and advocacy has had a significant impact on the global conversation around girls' education and has helped to raise awareness of the importance of education for girls and the challenges that they face in accessing it.

Her story and message have inspired countless people around the world, and she continues to be a powerful role model for young women and girls everywhere. Her activism has also been instrumental in bringing about policy changes and increased investment in girls' education in many countries.

Through her work with the Malala Fund, Malala has been able to significantly increase her impact and reach, and the organization has become a leading voice in the global movement for girls' education. The organization has grown significantly since its inception, and has provided education support to millions of girls around the world.

Malala's work as a UN Messenger of Peace has also amplified her message and given her a global platform to advocate for girls' education and women's rights.

Her legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come, as her efforts have helped to improve access to education for millions of girls and young women around the world and have also served as an inspiration for many others to fight for education and women's rights.