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Malala's Birth
Malala was born in Mingora, Pakistan, to
proud parents Ziauddin and Toor Pekai
Yousafzai. Ziauddin names his
daughter after Malalai, a Pashtun
heroine.
Welcoming a baby girl is not always
cause for celebration in Pakistan — but
Ziauddin is determined to give Malala
every opportunity that a boy would
have. Ziauddin, an educator, promises that Malala will go to school and be
treated with equality in his home. -
Talibans Took Malala's Town
In 2007, Taliban militants take
control of Swat. They ban
many things — like owning a television and playing music — and enforce harsh
punishments, including public executions, for citizens who defy their orders. In
December of 2008, the Taliban issues an edict banning girls from going to
school.
Using the pen name “Gul Makai” to protect her identity, Malala begins blogging
for the BBC about life under the Taliban. She describes how she feels in the
final days before her school is set to close. -
Malala Is Becoming Famous
The Pakistani army moves in to Swat Valley to force the Taliban out and fighting
ensues. More than one million residents of Swat, including the Yousafzai family,
flee their homes to other parts of the country.
After reading Malala’s blog for the BBC, The New York Times features Malala
and Ziauddin in a short documentary about their life and fight to protect girls’
education in Swat. -
The Withdrawal Of The Talibans
The Pakistani army weakens the
Taliban’s stronghold in Swat Valley,
forcing them to retreat. While the
Taliban no longer control Swat, they
remain in rural areas outside Mingora.
Ziauddin’s school is able to reopen and
Malala is excited to return to the
classroom. Although she fears retaliation for speaking out against the Taliban,
she publicly campaigns for girls to go to school — and wins Pakistan’s first
National Youth Peace Prize. -
The Attack To Malala
Due to her increased prominence, both in
Pakistan and around the world, the
Taliban target Malala. A masked gunman
boards Malala’s school bus and asks for
her by name. He shoots Malala in the
head, neck and shoulder. Two of her
friends, Kainat and Shazia, are also
injured in the attack.
Malala survives, but remains in critical
condition as she is transported to the
United Kingdom for treatment. People in Pakistan and around the world pray for
her recovery. -
Malala Returns To School
Malala puts on her backpack
and school uniform and steps
into a classroom for the first
time since the attack. -
The First Public Appearance Of Malala Since The Attack
In her first public appearance since the attack, Malala speaks at the United
Nations on her 16th birthday. The U.N. declares July 12th “Malala Day” — and
Malala promises to dedicate this day each year to shining a spotlight on the
world’s most vulnerable girls. -
Malala Continues Her Public Apperances
Determined to continue their
campaign for girls’ education,
Malala and Ziauddin set up Malala
Fund, an organisation dedicated
to give all girls access to
education.
Over the next few years, Malala
meets with girls around the world
and many heads of state, carrying
her message of girls’ education
and equality. -
Malala Visits Nigeria
In response to mass
kidnappings of schoolgirls by
the terrorist group Boko
Haram, Malala travels to
Nigeria on her 17th birthday to
meet with the families of the
victims and add her voice to
the outcry demanding for their
safe return. -
Malala Wins The Nobel Peace Prize
Malala and Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi win the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala
invites girls from Syria, Nigeria and Pakistan to attend the ceremony in Oslo, as
she becomes the youngest-ever Nobel Laureate. -
Malala Opens Her Secondary School
Malala marks her 18th birthday by
opening a secondary school for Syrian
refugee girls in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. -
Malala Has Her Own Documentary
HE NAMED ME MALALA, a
documentary by Academy-Award
winning director Davis Guggenheim,
hits theatres and brings Malala’s story
to audiences in 175 countries and 11
languages. -
Malala Launches A Campaign
On her last “first day” of
secondary school, Malala
launches a campaign
encouraging people around
the world to support education
for #YesAllGirls. -
Malala Travels Around The World
Before beginning university, Malala travelled
to North America, the Middle East, Africa and
Latin America on her Girl Power Trip. She
was on a mission to meet girls and listen to
their stories. Everywhere she went, she
heard directly from girls about barriers to
their education, like violence, poverty, child
marriage and machismo culture. Malala
brought their messages and concerns
directly to world leaders. -
Malala Enters At Oxford University
Malala is currently enrolled at
the University of Oxford, where
she is studying philosophy,
politics and economics at Lady
Margaret Hall. She balances
her school work and social life
with leading the fight for girls’
education around the world —
but she is not fighting alone.