Malala Yousafzai, a 16 year old girl from Pakistan is standing up for girls all around the world. Malala is an advocate for girl’s education. In 2009, in Pakistan Swat Valley, which is ruled by the Taliban, girls were banned from going to school. She took things into her own hands and started blogging. Not using her identity, she blogged the BBC about the recent changes in the law. Soon after the Taliban identified her.

On October 9^th, 2012 while riding home from school Malala’s bus was stopped by the Taliban. The last thing she remembers was the Taliban gunman saying, “Who is Malala?” Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban and nearly died. She woke up in a UK hospital and recovered. Malala still continues to get threats from the Taliban. But, continues advocating for girl’s education. “I have the right of education. I have the right to play. I have the right to sing. I have the right to talk,” said Malala. She recently just published a book titled, “I am Malala.” Which is her response to the Taliban.

Malala has won the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. She was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize though she did not win.  “If I talk about winning the Nobel Peace Prize, or not winning the Nobel Peace Prize. I think I have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Because, when I look at the nomination, and the support of people — if you just remove the jury — I have won it. And I’m happy for that,” said Malala.