Last year I put up this picture of Malala Yousafzai in my classroom along with other inspirational figures. Yesterday, Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She should have been awarded the prize last year. I'm glad the Nobel Committee made up for their omission.
Malala became an outspoken advocate for the rights of girls to be educated in Pakistan after her village was overrun by Taliban militants. At the age of eleven she began speaking and blogging about female education. Despite death threats she continued to encourage girls to go to school. On October 9th, 2012, on the way home from school, she was shot in the head by members of the Taliban. Fortunately the bullet did not enter the brain and after many surgeries she made an amazing recovery. She was fifteen.
She has continued to speak out for the rights of women despite continued threats to her life. She has spoken to the United Nations and venues all over the world. Keep in mind she is only seventeen years old. She is a true hero and another symbol of hope in this messed up world.
