When the Taliban took control of the region and ordered girls’ schools to close, she began speaking out. At age 11 she gave her first public speech and later wrote a blog for BBC Urdu under a pseudonym, describing life under the Taliban and arguing that every girl deserves to go to school.
In October 2012 Malala was shot in the head while riding a school bus. She was flown to the United Kingdom for emergency treatment, survived and decided not to be silenced.
Since her recovery she has become a global advocate for education. On her 16th birthday she addressed the United Nations, co-founded the Malala Fund and, in 2014, won the Nobel Peace Prize at age seventeen. Malala later studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and continues to campaign for girls’ right to learn around the world.
Graduated from Oxford University and continues advocating for education worldwide to speak up for herself.
Born July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan
Father Ziauddin Yousafzai is an educator; he ran a school for girls
Spoke out publicly for girls’ education at age 11 and blogged for BBC Urdu
Survived a Taliban assassination attempt in October 2012
Co‑founded the Malala Fund and spoke at the United Nations on her 16th birthday (Malala Day)
Received the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize at age 17, becoming the youngest laureate
When the Taliban took control of the region and ordered girls’ schools to close, she began speaking out. At age 11 she gave her first public speech and later wrote a blog for BBC Urdu under a pseudonym, describing life under the Taliban and arguing that every girl deserves to go to school.
In October 2012 Malala was shot in the head while riding a school bus. She was flown to the United Kingdom for emergency treatment, survived and decided not to be silenced.
Since her recovery she has become a global advocate for education. On her 16th birthday she addressed the United Nations, co-founded the Malala Fund and, in 2014, won the Nobel Peace Prize at age seventeen. Malala later studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and continues to campaign for girls’ right to learn around the world.
- Born July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan
- Father Ziauddin Yousafzai is an educator; he ran a school for girls
- Spoke out publicly for girls’ education at age 11 and blogged for BBC Urdu
- Survived a Taliban assassination attempt in October 2012
- Co‑founded the Malala Fund and spoke at the United Nations on her 16th birthday (Malala Day)
- Received the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize at age 17, becoming the youngest laureate
- Graduated from Oxford University and continues advocating for education worldwide