Raise Your Voice, Stand Up and be a Malala

A young girl who embraced courage and education even at the gunpoint of terror, Malala Yousafzai is not just a global Advocate for Education, she is a woman who has paved a fearless path of knowledge for generations to come.

Malala once said, “I don’t want to be thought of as the “girl who was shot by the Taliban” but the “girl who fought for education.” This is the cause to which I want to devote my life.” and rightly so, Malala has become the beacon of courage and hope for millions.

Knowledge dispels fear and that’s the biggest lesson she has taught the world. The UN celebrates July 12, Malala’s birthday, as “Malala Day” in honour of her activism to make education a human right. Malala has taught the world various things through her revolutionary journey, let’s dive in, to learn more about it!

Education dispels fear

“The extremists were, and they are, afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women… Let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons.”

Terrorism feeds on illiteracy, poverty and fear. Young Malala understood the infinite power a pen and book held. She urged women and little girls to never bow down to fear and fight for their right to education. Educated women and men are the only resources that can end suffering and transform this world. With courage and a zeal to learn, Malala has started a crucial chapter to educate women and every girl who has a voice and a pen is contributing to this endeavour today.

Equality and Feminism is the only way of life 

“Our men think earning money and ordering around others is where power lies. They don’t think power is in the hands of the woman who takes care of everyone all day long, and gives birth to their children.”

Malala is not just an advocate for education, she is also a modern feminist who understands the oppressive psyche of gender norms and questions them to raise awareness. People often stress that financial independence is crucial in subverting patriarchy, but this young Activist emphasises on working upon education that will enlighten members of the society to abolish such stereotypes.

The power of sword, pen and a woman

“There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women.”

When you educate a man, you enable him to become a provider to his family, but when you educate a woman, you empower her with knowledge, self-esteem, courage and ambition which holds the strength to change the world. Cowards choose the sword, intellectuals choose the pen, and the enlightened choose to empower women with education, for they know the strength of womanhood.

The story of this young Activist and achiever began from the day she questioned, “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” That’s all it took, a question, a pen and courage to never let fear stop her stride.

Raise your voice, stand up and be a Malala, because if one Malala could change the face of education, imagine what the world would look like with hundreds of millions of empowered women.