Malala the Powerful

October 9, 2012, was an ordinary afternoon in the Swat Valley, an area of towering mountains and green valleys in the country of Pakistan. A smiling girl named Malala Yousafzai [YOO-suhf-zye] was sitting on a school bus with her classmates. The 15-year-old was on her way home when two men boarded the bus. 

“Who is Malala?” one of the men demanded.

A feeling of terror filled the air. And then the unthinkable happened: The man shot Malala three times. 

Then the men fled. 

How could this have happened? Why would anyone want to hurt an innocent girl? Thankfully, she survived to tell her story.

It was an October afternoon in 2012 in the Swat Valley, a place of tall mountains and green valleys in the country of Pakistan. A girl named Malala Yousafzai [YOO-suhf-zye] sat on a school bus with her friends. The 15-year-old was on her way home when two men got on the bus. 

“Who is Malala?” one of the men demanded to know.

Fear filled the air. And then the unthinkable happened: The man shot Malala three times. 

Then the men ran away. 

What had just happened? Why would someone hurt an innocent girl? Luckily, she lived to tell her story.

The shooting was a terrible crime. But to many people around the world—including Malala herself—it was not a surprise. 

That’s because Malala was not just a student. She was also a courageous fighter in the struggle to help girls in Pakistan go to school. This fight made her a hero to many. It also put her in terrible danger.

In the U.S., all children attend school until they are at least 16. Parents who refuse to educate their children can be arrested. But around the world, more than 250 million kids do not go to school, and the majority of these children are girls. In some cases, girls must miss school to help support their families. But often it is discrimination that forces girls to stay home. 

This is the case in parts of Pakistan. The men who shot Malala were part of a dangerous group called the Taliban. The Taliban believe that all music should be banned, as well as television, movies, and games. They believe that girls should not be allowed to go to school. They also think that grown women should be forbidden to work or to go anywhere in public—like shopping or even sitting in a park—without a male relative.

The Taliban are not part of Pakistan’s government, but their forces are powerful in certain parts of the country. In areas under Taliban control, all people must follow their strict rules. Breaking these rules brings severe punishment, which may include public whipping, jail, or even death. 

The shooting was an awful crime. But to many people—including Malala herself—it was no surprise. 

That’s because Malala was not just a student. She was also a courageous fighter, trying to help girls in Pakistan go to school. This fight made her a hero. It also put her in danger.

In the U.S., all children go to school until they are at least 16. Parents who don’t let their children go to school can be put in jail. But around the world, more than 250 million kids do not go to school. Most of these kids are girls. In some cases, girls miss school because they must help their famlies. But often it is discrimination that makes girls stay home. 

This is the case in parts of Pakistan. The men who shot Malala were part of a group called the Taliban. The Taliban want to ban all music, television, movies, and games. They believe that girls should not go to school. They think grown women should not work or leave their homes without a male relative.

The Taliban are not part of the government, but they have a lot of power. In areas that they control, people must follow their rules. Anyone who breaks these rules may be punished by whipping, jail, or even death. 

For most of her childhood, Malala did not have to worry about the Taliban. She was born in 1997 in the Swat Valley, a gorgeous place known for its grand mountains, thick forests, and mighty rivers. It was once a popular vacation spot. But starting in 2007, when Malala was 10, the Taliban began taking control of the area. They blew up buildings and threatened anyone who defied them. 

In January 2009, the Taliban ordered all girls schools to be closed. That included Malala’s school, which her father had owned for more than a decade. 

Despite the Taliban’s order, Malala’s father decided to keep his school open. From then on, Malala and her family lived under constant threat. Across the region, hundreds of schools were being bombed. Teachers were being harmed. Malala and her classmates stopped wearing their school uniforms and hid their books under their clothing. Even so, many parents felt the risk was too great. Attendance at Malala’s school decreased by more than 60 percent. 

At first, Malala felt helpless. What could she do?

When she was younger, Malala did not worry about the Taliban. She was born in 1997 in the Swat Valley, a place known for its beautiful mountains, thick forests, and big rivers. It was a well-liked vacation spot. But starting in 2007, when Malala was 10, the Taliban began taking over the area. They blew up buildings. They made angry warnings to people who defied them. 

In January 2009, the Taliban ordered all girls schools to be shut. Malala’s school, which her father owned, was one of them. 

Yet Malala’s father chose to keep his school open. From then on, Malala and her family lived under threat from the Taliban. Hundreds of schools were being bombed. Teachers were being hurt. Malala and other students hid their books under their clothes. But many parents felt it was too risky to send their kids to school. At Malala’s school, more than half the students stopped going.  

At first, Malala felt helpless. What could she do?

But Malala soon discovered that she had a powerful weapon: her own voice. 

In 2009, she began writing online about what her life was like under the Taliban. She shared her dreams of becoming a doctor. She talked about her fierce determination to get an education, no matter what the Taliban did. 

Malala’s posts became incredibly popular. Soon millions of people all over the world were reading them. 

In May 2009, the Pakistani army launched a full-scale attack against the Taliban in the Swat Valley. By August, most of the Taliban had been pushed out of the cities and into the countryside.

After that, Malala launched an attack of her own. She went on television shows and gave powerful speeches to Pakistani kids. Her message was always the same: All children deserve to go to school. Her courage gave hope to thousands. In 2011, the president of Pakistan awarded her the country’s first National Youth Peace Prize. It seemed that everyone knew her name. 

Including the Taliban. 

But Malala soon found that she had a powerful tool: her own voice. 

In 2009, she began writing online about her life under the Taliban. She shared her dreams of being a doctor. She talked about her strong determination to go to school, no matter what the Taliban did. 

Soon millions of people all over the world were reading Malala’s posts. 

In May 2009, the Pakistani army began to attack the Taliban in the Swat Valley. By August, the Taliban had been pushed from the cities into the country.

After that, Malala began an attack of her own. She went on TV shows and gave speeches to kids in Pakistan. She always said the same thing: All children deserve to go to school. Her courage gave people hope. In 2011, Pakistan’s president gave her the first National Youth Peace Prize. The whole country knew her name.

So did the Taliban. 

In 2012, Malala began receiving threats ordering her to give up her cause. But she refused to back down. Then on October 9, 2012, the Taliban gunmen shot her and two others on the bus. 

The hours following the shooting were intense. Malala’s friends were not seriously hurt, but Malala suffered injuries to her left ear and her skull. She was flown to a hospital in Birmingham, England. Her family soon joined her.

The Taliban boasted about the shooting, saying it was a warning to other kids not to follow Malala’s example. 

Meanwhile, the world waited, tense and furious. In Pakistan, millions prayed for Malala. Protesters marched, many of them kids carrying signs that read “I Am Malala.” It seemed that by trying to silence Malala, the Taliban had actually helped thousands of others find voices of their own.

In 2012, Malala began getting threats. The Taliban told her to stop giving speeches. But she did not back down. Then in October, the Taliban gunmen got on the bus and shot her and two others. 

Malala’s friends were not badly hurt, but Malala was. Her left ear and her skull had been injured. She was taken to a hospital in England. Her family went too.

The Taliban bragged about hurting Malala. They said it was a warning to other kids to follow their rules. 

The world waited, tense and angry. In Pakistan, millions prayed for Malala. People marched. Kids held signs that read “I Am Malala.” By trying to silence Malala, the Taliban had led many others to speak up.  

Fortunately, Malala survived the attack. She had several surgeries to repair her skull and improve her hearing. And she and her family decided to stay in England, where they would be safer from the Taliban.

Though her life changed forever, Malala’s powerful work has continued. Since her recovery, she has traveled the world, giving speeches, meeting world leaders, and winning major awards. Her book I Am Malala was an international best-seller.  

Malala graduated from college in 2020. And her goal remains the same: for girls everywhere to have the right to go to school. 

It was amazing that Malala lived. She had operations to fix her skull and make her hearing better. And she and her family chose to stay safer in England, away from the Taliban.

Though the attack changed her life forever, Malala keeps up her powerful work. Now that she has healed, she takes trips all over the world. She gives speeches, meets world leaders, and wins big awards. Her book I Am Malala was a bestseller.  

Malala graduated from college in 2020. Her goal is still the same. She wants girls everywhere to have the chance to go to school.