Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai was born on 12 July 1997. She is a Pakistani activist who works for girls’ education. She became famous for speaking up for girls’ right to go to school, even when some people tried to stop them.

At 17 years old, Malala became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Prize. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She was also the second Pakistani and the only Pashtun person to win this honor. Her work has inspired many people to support education for all children.

Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was also an education activist. She was named after Malalai of Maiwand, a brave Afghan woman from history. When she was 11, she wrote a secret blog for the BBC Urdu about life in Swat. Later, she wrote a best-selling book and started the Malala Fund to help girls go to school.

After a serious incident in 2012, Malala continued her activism. She studied at Edgbaston High School in Birmingham, England, and later at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Today, she is known as one of the most influential young people in the world for her work in supporting education for girls everywhere.

Early life

Malala Yousafzai was born on 12 July 1997 in the Swat District of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. She grew up in a family that believed in education, even though they did not have much money. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, ran a chain of private schools and encouraged her to speak up for girls' right to go to school.

In 2008, the Pakistani Taliban started stopping girls from going to school in her area. Malala began writing for the BBC Urdu blog under the name "Gul Makai." She wrote about her life under Taliban rule, including schools that were closed and the fear people felt. Her brave words helped people see how important it is for all children to get an education.

Assassination attempt

As Malala Yousafzai became more well-known, she faced dangers. The Pakistani Taliban made threats against her. On October 9, 2012, when Malala was 15, a gunman shot her as she walked home from school in Pakistan. Doctors helped her recover.

After this, many people around the world showed support for Malala. People in Pakistan protested, and leaders from many countries spoke out for girls’ right to education. Even after this, Malala kept speaking up for children’s right to learn.

Education

From 2013 to 2017, Malala Yousafzai went to a school for girls in Birmingham and did very well. She later went to Oxford University, where she studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and finished with good grades in 2020. While she was at Oxford, she met the famous climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

Continuing activism

Malala Yousafzai keeps speaking up for education and human rights all over the world. In 2013, she talked to the United Nations, met Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, spoke at Harvard University, and talked with US President Barack Obama. She has also spoken at events like the Girl Summit in London and helped give money to rebuild schools in the Gaza Strip.

In 2015, on her 18th birthday, Malala opened a school for girls who had to leave their homes in Syria and were living in Lebanon. She has also talked about how to help the Rohingya people in Myanmar, asking for better rights and safety for them. Malala dreams of helping people in public service and continues to be a strong voice for education and equality for every child.

Personal life

Malala Yousafzai married Asser Malik, a manager with the Pakistan Cricket Board, in Birmingham on 9 November 2021. She supports Birmingham City and is a practising Sunni Muslim. She has spoken about how her faith is important to her and has defended her choice to wear a shayla.

Reception

Malala Yousafzai faced some criticism in Pakistan. Some people did not agree with her ideas about education and women's rights. They thought she was influenced by Western countries because of her Nobel Prize and studies in England.

In 2018, she returned to Pakistan for the first time after being attacked. She spoke about her pride in her country and religion. Later, she talked about the situation in Kashmir and the conflict in Gaza, which led to more criticism from some people.

Works

Malala Yousafzai wrote a memoir called I Am Malala. She wrote it with a journalist named Christina Lamb. The book came out in 2013. It tells the story of her fight for girls' education. There is also a children's version of the book that many kids enjoy.

People can learn more about Malala from a documentary named He Named Me Malala and a film called Gul Makai. She also wrote a picture book, Malala's Magic Pencil, which shares an important message through a fantasy story. In 2018, she shared stories about refugees in a book called We Are Displaced: True Stories of Refugee Lives. In 2025, she published her second memoir, Finding My Way. Malala also worked with Apple to create special programs for Apple TV+.

Awards and honours

Further information: List of things named after Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai has received many awards for her work in supporting education for girls. In 2014, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with Kailash Satyarthi. She has also been honored with the International Children's Peace Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

She has been named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. She received the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International. She has also received honorary degrees from universities such as the University of Edinburgh and the University of Ottawa. In 2015, an asteroid was named 316201 Malala in her honor.

In popular culture

Malala Yousafzai has appeared in many films and shows. In 2015, she did magic tricks on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In 2016, she was in the movie Zoolander 2. In 2019, a movie named Booksmart used her name as a secret word. In 2023, she was a superhero in the animated movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. In 2024, she acted in an episode of the British show We Are Lady Parts.