Malala Day

Date:

July 12 (Malala Yousafzai's birthday)
First Observed: 2013, by the United Nations

Who is Malala Yousafzai?

• Born: July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan

• Known For:

  • Championing girls’ education and women's rights

  • Surviving a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012 for speaking out on girls’ education

  • Becoming the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2014 (at age 17)

Why July 12?

On July 12, 2013, Malala delivered a powerful and emotional speech at the United Nations Youth Assembly in New York, just nine months after surviving a Taliban gunshot to the head.

In her speech, she stated:

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”

The UN declared the day Malala Day to honor her courage and to highlight the global struggle for education, particularly for girls and children in crisis zones.

Purpose and Goals of Malala Day

Key Objectives:

1. Raise awareness about the millions of girls denied education

2. Advocate for equal access to schooling for all children

3. Support girls’ rights to learn without fear, discrimination, or violence

4. Inspire youth activism around education and human rights

Education Crisis in Numbers

• Over 129 million girls around the world are out of school (UNESCO, 2024)

• Barriers include:

  • Poverty

  • Early/forced marriage

  • Gender discrimination

  • Conflict and displacement

  • Lack of schools or teachers

Global Impact and Support

Malala Fund:

• Founded in 2013 by Malala and her father Ziauddin Yousafzai

• Works in countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia

• Funds local education advocates, policy reform, and girls' leadership programs

UN & NGO Campaigns:

• UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Quality Education for All

• Partner efforts: UNICEF, UNESCO, Plan International, and more

Malala’s Achievements

• Nobel Peace Prize (2014)

• Co-author of the best-selling memoir “I Am Malala”

• Oxford University graduate (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics – PPE, 2020)

• Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People multiple times

• Continues to campaign globally for the rights of girls and women

How People Observe Malala Day

• Hosting or attending educational events and youth panels

• Promoting campaigns for equal access to education

• Sharing Malala’s story on social media using hashtags like #MalalaDay and #LetGirlsLearn

• Donating to causes supporting girls' education and empowerment

• Engaging students in essay contests, debates, or art projects on global education rights

Inspirational Quotes by Malala

“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.”
“I raise up my voice — not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.”