Malala Yousafzai: recipient of Pakistan’s first National Peace Prize, the youngest person to ever win a Nobel Peace Prize, renowned education activist, international best-selling author, and one of Time’s 100 Most influential people (2014).
These are just a few of Malala’s accomplishments, and all before her 21st birthday. July 12th is Malala’s birthday and International Malala day. This incredible young woman has so much drive and goodness in her heart and truly exemplifies all that Young Women’s Alliance stands for. She is a leader in the movement to ensure all children have the right to an education, she is educating people on issues in her home country and around the world, and she is dedicating her time to ensure that conditions are continually improving.
She is passionate about her purpose and has not let obstacles, no matter how large, deter her. In honor of Malala, we have compiled a list of our 8 favorite quotes from her book, “I Am Malala”.
1) “I think everyone makes a mistake at least once in their life. The important thing is what you learn from it.”
2) “I don’t want to be thought of as the ‘girl who was shot by the Taliban’ but the ‘girl who fought for education.”
3) “Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.”
4) “Peace in every home, every street, every village, every country – this is my dream. Education for every boy and every girl in the world. To sit down on a chair and read my books with all my friends at school is my right. To see each and every human being with a smile of happiness is my wish.”
5) “If one man can destroy everything, why can’t one girl change it?”
6) “If you don’t raise your voice, it is unlikely anyone will hear you.”
7) “If hating is the worst way to exert your energy, love is the best way to use your energy. The more you give, the more you get. Be compassionate. Tell those you love that you love them.”
8) “For the love of all that is good in this world, please never give up. If you care about something or someone, no matter what happens, refuse to quit! Never give up, and seek motivation to fuel your drive.”
Malala is proof that one person can make a difference, who’s to say that you won’t be the next woman to change the world?
Interested in learning more about Malala? Her autobiography, “I am Malala” is available here, her father has a TED Talk which you can watch here, her Nobel Prize acceptance speech here, and if you have Netflix you should check out her interview with David Letterman on “My Next Guest Is…”
Links:
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education And Was Shot By The Taliban
