Malala will "change the future of Pakistan"

Published October 7, 2013
Malala said in an interview with BBC whille the prize was a “great opportunity” in a BBC interview, but stressed that education for all children -- girls and boys -- was her real goal.
Malala said in an interview with BBC whille the prize was a “great opportunity” in a BBC interview, but stressed that education for all children -- girls and boys -- was her real goal.
Malala first rose to prominence during Taliban rule in Swat with a blog for the BBC Urdu service chronicling the rigours of daily life under the Islamists.
Malala first rose to prominence during Taliban rule in Swat with a blog for the BBC Urdu service chronicling the rigours of daily life under the Islamists.
Education has improved in Swat since the Taliban days. Since 2011 the proportion of girls going to school has risen to nearly 50 percent, from 34 percent, while that of boys is close to 90 percent.
Education has improved in Swat since the Taliban days. Since 2011 the proportion of girls going to school has risen to nearly 50 percent, from 34 percent, while that of boys is close to 90 percent.
Malala has become one of the world's most famous teenagers, attracting support from the likes of Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Bono and Gordon Brown.
Malala has become one of the world's most famous teenagers, attracting support from the likes of Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Bono and Gordon Brown.
“Malala is a model, not only for us but for the whole of Pakistan,” said 14-year-old Rehana Noor Bacha.
“Malala is a model, not only for us but for the whole of Pakistan,” said 14-year-old Rehana Noor Bacha.
“A bicycle cannot run with only one wheel: society is like a bicycle, with the male education as the first wheel and female education as the second one,” Malala told AFP.
“A bicycle cannot run with only one wheel: society is like a bicycle, with the male education as the first wheel and female education as the second one,” Malala told AFP.
Authorities say they are short of at least a thousand female teachers and 200 classrooms for girls.
Authorities say they are short of at least a thousand female teachers and 200 classrooms for girls.
Pakistani female students attend a class at a school in Mingora, the capital of Swat Valley. Malala, has become a global ambassador for education, feted by celebrities and politicians around the Western world.
Pakistani female students attend a class at a school in Mingora, the capital of Swat Valley. Malala, has become a global ambassador for education, feted by celebrities and politicians around the Western world.
Maulana Gul Naseeb, a prominent figure in the JUI-F, one of Pakistan's leading religious political parties, speaking during an interview with AFP about Malala Yousafzai in Mingora the capital of Swat Valley.
Maulana Gul Naseeb, a prominent figure in the JUI-F, one of Pakistan's leading religious political parties, speaking during an interview with AFP about Malala Yousafzai in Mingora the capital of Swat Valley.
Female students attend a class at a school in Mingora. Swat was once a prime tourist destination, but it was plunged into war in 2007 when the Pakistani Taliban took control.
Female students attend a class at a school in Mingora. Swat was once a prime tourist destination, but it was plunged into war in 2007 when the Pakistani Taliban took control.
Students walk, at the exact place where Malala Yousufzai was attacked. Safia's sentiments are shared by many schoolgirls in Mingora, who want their country and their area to be known for something other than Taliban and bombs.
Students walk, at the exact place where Malala Yousufzai was attacked. Safia's sentiments are shared by many schoolgirls in Mingora, who want their country and their area to be known for something other than Taliban and bombs.
Malala is among the favourites for the Nobel, which will be awarded on Friday, and Safia said she deserves it.
Malala is among the favourites for the Nobel, which will be awarded on Friday, and Safia said she deserves it.
The head of girls' education in Swat, Dilshad Begum, explained that in Pashtun society “people don't like to see women in front of cameras”.
The head of girls' education in Swat, Dilshad Begum, explained that in Pashtun society “people don't like to see women in front of cameras”.

“I will be a politician in my future. I want to change the future of my country and I want to make education compulsory,” says Malala Yosufzai.

In Malala's home town in Pakistan, school friends hope to see her win the Nobel Peace Prize this week -- but they dream in secret, under pressure from a society deeply ambivalent about the teenage activist. Malala, who survived being shot by the Taliban on October 9 last year, has become a global ambassador for education, feted by celebrities and politicians around the Western world.

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