MALALA YOUSAFZAI OF PAKISTAN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU
When disgruntled, ignorant, pessimistic Taliban attacked a school bus, identified and had their gunman shoot Malala on 9th October 2012, they meant to silence her permanently and possibly kill her. Her offense was advocating equal rights for girls to be educated. On Friday, 12th July 2013, Malala Yousafzai clocked 16 years. A specially convened session of the United Nations, was held to honour and celebrate the promising girl from Pakistan. It was a well constituted audience made up of leaders including few elder statesmen and women. Assembled also were aspiring youths from around the world. There were introductory speeches by former British Prime Minister and United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education, Mr. Gordon Brown, the Secretary General, Mr. Banki-Moon, and the President of the General Assembly. Malala Yousafzai mounted the podium to deliver a powerful and inspiring speech.
• Malala Day is not her day; it is for all women, girls and boys who would stand up to speak for their rights.
• It is time to speak up.
• Free Education for all children.
• Tolerance. Not looking for revenge against the Taliban nor the gunman who shot her.
• Equal opportunity without constraints of gender or religion.
• The Terrorists fear education; the book and the pen.
• 1 Child, 1 Teacher, 1 Book and 1 Pen can change the world; education first.
• Peace
• Forgiveness.
• “The Taliban planned to silence me; Instead, terror, fear and hopelessness died ; fervor, hope and courage was born”.
• Inspiration from Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa, Mandela, Ghandi, Martin Luther King and her Parents.
What a gem, Pakistan has reluctantly produced and given to this generation!
What a gem the Yousafzai family has painstakingly and joyfully produced!
What a gem the UNO is helping to inspire other youths!
God bless you Malala. Never give up!
The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) is an initiative launched by the United Nations in 2000 at the World Education Forum in Dakar. It aims to reduce the gender gap in schooling for girls and to give girls equal access to all levels of education.
Adopted at the June 13, 2008, meeting of the UNGEI Global Advisory Committee in Kathmandu, Nepal, the UNGEI vision statement is
“A world where all girls and boys are empowered through quality education to realize their full potential and contribute to transforming societies where gender equality becomes a reality.
The question may be asked: How far has the international community been able to deliver on this issue? without being subjective or equivocal, I would state that there remains quite a lot to be done before the year 2015 to make free basic education available to all children. Citing only a few examples; it is very disgusting that nations such as Pakistan, and Afghanistan could still be denying children, especially girls full access to education. It is very shameful and unthinkable that Nigeria and India could still be found wanting in this regard, for whatever reasons. How should any group of leaders in any progressive economy be found persistently failing on such basic, but essential opportunity as education ? Could it be really attributed to ignorance? Could it be due to arrogance and cruelty alone; or could it be all these put together? No effort should be spared at educating the ignorant, hardened, arrogant, illiterate religious fanatical biggots in parts of the world such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Northern Nigeria; to mention just a few! The more women are educated, the better the prospects for a better future for each nation. Women are the real builders of nations. To rusticate or undermine a girl or a woman is to unduly limit nation-building and cause retrogression, breeding more ignorance, poverty, diseases, sorrow, fear, oppression and untimely death! We all can do better in this generation. At only 16 years, Malala has spoken very well and timely too. Well done Malala.
AgapeFocus 
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