Last Friday Malala Yousafzai brought the world’s attention to the 57 million children not able to go to school. Not only has Malala inspired us all, but she has connected at a deep level with youth across all spectrums. No more more so than in her own community.
In part two of our NewsDay series this week highlighting global journalism, The Guardian reports, “the words of a young girl whose determination to go to school made her a target for the Taliban has made others eager to learn.”
Pakistani girls at school in Mingora, Swat. The Taliban’s shooting of Malala Yousafzai has paradoxically inspired other girls to study. Photo: A Majeed/AFP/Getty
A teacher in the Pashwan district of Swat in Pakistan began reading Malala’s diary to her students. Malala had published a regular online diary for the BBC prior to her attack. As the students became familiar with Malala’s writings, an awakening unfolded. “One 14-year-old girl, Sara (name changed), writes in an elegant, cursive hand and at length about her own aspirations and scenes from everyday life. “I think Malala is a brave and an intelligent girl,” reads the first entry in her own diary, titled A Tribute to Malala. “The Taliban should not stop her to go to school because every person has their own life. A killer should not attack on her because it is not right…We all should respect our talented people, as we respect Malala.””
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Read the full article here. You can also watch Malala’s full speech to the United Nations Youth Assembly last Friday:
And catch and share this great report from ABC News’ Bob Woodward!