Unit 4: Enriching Exchanges (1ère AMC)

 

Malala Yousafzai, on the Power of Education

“Books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first.” Malala Yousafzai

 

The document under study is a video published in 2015 by Glamour magazine on YouTube. It deals with a young Pakistani activist named Malala Yousafzai who fights for girls’ education. We have learned that without school she would have to marry and become a housewife. Indeed, this is the only possibility for girls in Pakistan when they cannot go to school (no other aspirations). According to Malala, men who prevent girls from going to school are afraid of powerful and educated women in reality. Malala’s voice was heard thanks to a correspondent from the BBC who wanted to know more about what was going on in her country. That was how she started to blog for BBC and speak out about girls’ education in her country. In fact, her country was under the influence of the Taliban who set a reign of violence and fear. Only courage could make someone confront them.

Malala was shot on October 9, 2012 because of her activism on her way to go to school. Afterwards, a movement began to create: young girls and women raised their voices through the hashtag #IAmMalala. The aim of this movement was to give girls the right to go to school and fight terrorism.

Homework: Learn the lesson.