Malala Yousafzai
By the Constitution’s fine print, all children in the United States are granted a free public education as a fundamental right. Although that privilege may seem obvious and universal, a disturbingly large number of young girls in other countries aren’t granted that same opportunity. In Afghanistan, the issue has grown increasingly since the Taliban’s robust takeover in 2001. Since then, they’ve successfully prevented over 1 million girls from simply attending school.
As of December 2022, Afghanistan is the only country that suspends a girl’s right to education by governmental force. The recent suspensions of education are especially upsetting, as it undoes all the progress made by progressivists in the past two decades. Specifically, the country had a tenfold increase in women enrolled in education since 2001. Each day that passes, the Taliban are hindering the success of their country by preventing half of their population from stepping into an educational facility.
Many are aware of the story of Malala Yousafzai, a crusader for female education in Pakistan. For those who aren’t, Malala is the daughter of a man who was dedicated to providing her the same educational opportunities as a boy. He taught her, and 11 other classmates, at a girls' school. On a winter day in 2008, the Taliban forced the girls out of their school, leaving them questioning if they’d ever return. That day, Malala dedicated herself to speaking out against the Taliban’s violation of female education rights. In 2012, after years of speaking out on behalf of women, the Taliban shot Malala in the head while riding her school bus. What was a combination of possible good karma and intensive medical care, Malala survived and moved to the U.K. with her family.
Since her miraculous recovery, Malala graduated from Oxford University, and started the Malala Fund. The Malala Fund is dedicated to increasing enrollment in secondary schools for girls, through building and rebuilding schools in impoverished areas in Pakistan.
Although her story was central to the fight in Pakistan, the Malala Fund has directed their work toward the current issues in Afghanistan as well. They have invested close to $1.9 million in the fight for equal education under the Taliban’s strict rule. Because of their generous investments, the Taliban’s takeover in 2021 was less than ideal. An additional one million dollars were spent to retreat and find safety for the Education Champions. Although schools remain closed, the Malala Fund is supporting alternative education opportunities in Afghanistan.
The story of Malala Yousafzai is a testament to the resilience and determination of individuals who believe in the power of education to change lives. As the fight for equal education in Afghanistan continues, we must support these efforts to ensure that every child, regardless of gender, has access to quality education. The future of Afghanistan depends on it.
