LONDON: Malala Yousafzai will go silent for 24 hours on April 17 to show solidarity with children whose voices are silenced.

“It’s our turn to effect a positive change, to stand up for equality and to empower others to join us. On 17 April, I will go silent to stand in solidarity with my peers who remain voiceless,” she told an audience of thousands of schoolchildren and teachers at the ‘We Day’ youth empowerment event in London on Friday.

Malala said she wanted young people around the world to join her in the day of silence to highlight the need for the world to listen to children’s voices.

The event `We Are Silent’ will mark the end of a four-day social media campaign organised by the Malala Fund and social activist charity Free The Children to raise the plight of children who are suffering.

“We have opportunities to raise our voices. We should use it to the benefit of these children,” the Nobel Peace Prize nominee added.

The WE Day event sought to empower children to get involved in making a change through charity work and was attended by students from more than 380 schools across the United Kingdom.

Tickets to the show were awarded to children who had done charity work.

By arrangement with the Times of India