Today is the International Day of the Girl, and I’ve been struggling to write a meaningful post, wondering how I could possibly get across my deepest thoughts and heartfelt hopes.
Then I found this photo I took at the Social Good Summit a few weeks ago, and realized it says it all.
Malala.
Just saying her name inspires the kind of hushed reverence usually reserved for someone like Mother Theresa.
When she walked onstage at the 92nd Street Y in New York, the crowd rose as one. Although Al Gore, Sir Richard Branson and Ian Somerhalder were certainly popular and heartily-welcomed speakers, it was obvious that it was Malala everyone had come to see.
Sixteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban simply for attending school, has become the face of educating girls – and the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Believing “education is the power for women,” she has elevated the conversation and become a staunch advocate for making sure girls around the world get the education they deserve.
Poised, articulate and compassionate, she had the audience in tears. She is truly an inspiration.
Rather than blab on about her, I’ll let Malala speak for herself. Watch her on The Daily Show, below, share it with your own sons and daughters, and don’t be surprised to find yourself as awestruck as Jon Stewart.
Thank you for sharing this. Malala is truly inspirational. I loved when Jon Stewart said that it make him feel good to make her laugh.
I loved that, too. She is so wise and so amazing, and she should just have a chance to be a child for a while.
Her maturity is amazing and her poise is awe-inspiring. To hear her emphatically explain that she would not lower herself to the Taliban’s level by fighting — wow. Great post.
It’s amazing to see a teenager more poised and confident in her beliefs than most adults, me included. Lovely post.
She is just amazing! Thank you for sharing this!!
Even though I saw her at the 92nd Street Y and I watched the interviews on TV, I loved watching this video. I never get tired of hearing her speak. She is remarkable.
Brava for posting this! What poise! What Vision! I am so looking forward to seeing what this tiny dynamo manifests in our world,
Thank you Lois, I didn’t know about this wonderful young woman. I often wonder what it will take to make the changes that need to occur in the world today. And, now I can see it will be the strength of people like her. Virginia