What have I accomplished in my life? Where did it start and how is it going? Learn more about the events featured in the Timeline page here.
Born July 12th, 1997: I was born in Swat, Pakistan in my own home. In Pakistan the birth of a girl is rarely celebrated, but my father was passionate about making sure I had every opportunity that a boy could have.
Began writing blog: The Taliban, an extremist group in my country, had been becoming more dangerous and was threatening women's education. The BBC decided to have a schoolgirl anonymously blog about her life in this situation to attain insider knowledge of the Taliban's influence in Swat. I agreed, and donning the name Gul Makai, I began to share what it was like to be a young girl in a world where their very right to education could be taken away at any moment.
Blog ended and documentary filming started: After I finished writing on my blog, I was approached about filming a documentary about how my and many other girl's schools were being shut down by the Taliban. I was happy for such an opportunity, so Class Dismissed was born.
Nominated for Children's Peace Prize: Because of my growing activism, I was nominated for the Children's Peace Prize by human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Blog ended and documentary filming started: After I finished writing on my blog, I was approached about filming a documentary about how my and many other girl's schools were being shut down by the Taliban. I was happy for such an opportunity, so Class Dismissed was born.
Nominated for Children's Peace Prize: Because of my growing activism, I was nominated for the Children's Peace Prize by human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Shot by Taliban: Unfortunately, though my speeches, blogging, and other acts of activism helped me raise awareness about the education rights of women, it also made me a target for the Taliban. I had assured myself that since they had never come from a young girl I would be relatively safe, but this was not the case. On October 16th, 2012, I was riding home from school when a man came up to the bus. He came aboard and asked, "Who is Malala?" The next thing I knew, he had fired three shots, two of which injured my friends and one of which traveled through the side of my left eye all the way to my shoulder. The man fled and I was rushed to the hospital.
Former Prime Minister creates petition: I was transferred to multiple hospitals following my shooting, and while in one of them former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited me. He was to launch a new petition, "I Am Malala", that called on all countries including Pakistan to end discrimination against girls and women. Its goal was to have no child left out of school by 2015, and it amassed over a million signatures.
Discharged from hospital: After many months in medical care, I was finally able to go to a temporary home in the UK with my family. However, my rehabilitation was far from over. I underwent physiotherapy and another operation, and part of my face was difficult to move because of damage to my facial nerve. The nerve took years to mostly recover, 96% of which happened by July of 2014.
Former Prime Minister creates petition: I was transferred to multiple hospitals following my shooting, and while in one of them former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited me. He was to launch a new petition, "I Am Malala", that called on all countries including Pakistan to end discrimination against girls and women. Its goal was to have no child left out of school by 2015, and it amassed over a million signatures.
Discharged from hospital: After many months in medical care, I was finally able to go to a temporary home in the UK with my family. However, my rehabilitation was far from over. I underwent physiotherapy and another operation, and part of my face was difficult to move because of damage to my facial nerve. The nerve took years to mostly recover, 96% of which happened by July of 2014.
Celebrates birthday by making famous UN speech: The speech I made to the United Nations is one of my most well known. It took place less than a year after I was shot. I spoke of the rights of those without a voice, and of the importance of education for everyone, including the children of the Taliban. I also spoke about how it is so much more powerful to speak peacefully than resort to violence, and how it is not my religion that is harming us, but the way extremists interpret it to serve their own ideals.
Published I Am Malala: My autobiography, I Am Malala: the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, was co-written by Christina Lamb and I. It tells the story of my parents' life in Swat before I was born, my time growing up in school, my shooting, and my time in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It also gives a very in-depth look at life as a girl in Pakistan, and is a great way to learn about that and my story.
Meeting with Barak Obama and family: In the years following my shooting I was lucky enough to speak to many prominent figures in activism and government, some of which were Barak and Michelle Obama and their daughter Malia. In this meeting I spoke to the president about his use of drones in Pakistan and how they fuel terrorism and resentment, and though I was grateful for his support of education in my country it would be best to focus on those efforts instead of on more violent ones.
Founded the Malala Fund: I am incredibly proud of the work the Malala Fund has allowed me and my fellow activists to do. It is an organization funded by myself and my father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, to actively help girls around the world get an education.
Traveled to Jordan, Kenya, and Nigeria: The Malala Fund has raised an incredible amount of money for the cause of women's right to education. Through the fund I was able to go to Jordan and Kenya to meet with students and refugees, and travel to Nigeria to speak out against brutal terrorist group Boko Haram. The group abducted 276 schoolgirls in 2014, which is what I went to speak about.
Traveled to Jordan, Kenya, and Nigeria: The Malala Fund has raised an incredible amount of money for the cause of women's right to education. Through the fund I was able to go to Jordan and Kenya to meet with students and refugees, and travel to Nigeria to speak out against brutal terrorist group Boko Haram. The group abducted 276 schoolgirls in 2014, which is what I went to speak about.
Received Nobel Peace Prize: When I was 17, I was one of two people to receive the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for my activism for all children's education. In my acceptance speech I called on world leaders to take action. I asked why it is so easy for them to give guns and build tanks, yet so hard to give books and build schools. I was the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Completed Philosophy, Politics, and Economics degree: I was accepted to study this degree in 2017, and I finished it in 2020. Part of the reason I chose this degree is that I have been interested in politics for a long time. When I was very young I wanted to be a doctor like many of my friends, but as I saw how many horrible things were happening around me, I became interested in politics. As I said in the documentary Class Dismissed, I must be a politician to save this country. There are so many crises in our country. I want to remove these crises.
Married to Asser Malik: Only less than a month ago, on November 9th, 2021, I got married to my partner Asser Malik. This is one of the most exciting moments of my life, and I cannot wait for the journey ahead. I will not stop working towards a better future for all children, but now my own future is looking brighter than ever.