4 Feb 2013

Malala Yousafzai’s fight for education

Special Correspondent and Presenter

Malala Yousafzai says she believes so strongly in education that she would be willing to “sacrifice herself once again” if it meant every child could be educated, writes Fatima Manji.

This is the first time we have heard Malala Yousafzai speak since she was shot and she has used the opportunity not just to talk about her own health, but to continue expressing how passionately she feels about the right for girls to have an education.

In a pre-recorded video, Malala speaks of how grateful she is to be given “a new life, a second life”. She thanks her well-wishers, saying “it’s just because of the prayers of the people” that she continues to get “better day by day”. She also says she wants to support the right for all girls to be educated and launches The Malala Fund.

The Malala Fund has been established by Vital Voices, an NGO which works to train and mentor women into leadership roles. The fund will work together with Malala and her family to support the education of girls in Pakistan and globally by providing grants.

Read more: Malala shooting 'a crime against women'

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in October 2012. Just days after the attack she was flown to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital where she has been receiving treatment.

On Saturday, she underwent two operations lasting five hours. Her medical team say they are “very pleased” with the procedures and Malala will remain at the hospital until she is well enough to be discharged.

Meanwhile, Malala continues to show her determination. She released three statements, in English, Urdu and Pashto, saying roughly the same thing in each. But one line in Urdu particularly stands out for me.

Malala says she believes so strongly in education that she would be willing to “sacrifice herself once again” – if it meant every child could be educated.