The Warrior with Words

Illustration Source: time.com

There is a girl who was born in Mingora on the River Swat in northern Pakistan. Her mother was the heart of their home. She is quiet, but she is a strong and determined supporter of her daughter. Her two little brothers kept chickens.

One day, a little girl tell a story. “Before I was born, when I was in my tummy of my mother, my father would always say a tappa, a Pashtun story. If you look at the world map, on the east side, you can find a country called Afghanistan. Long ago, it had a fight with another country called England. The Afghan people, they were losing hope and a teenager saw the fighters running away. She goes up to the mountain. She raised her voice. It is better to live like a lion for one day, thanto live like a slave for a hundred years. She encouraged the people of Afghanistan. She led the army to a great victory. But she was shot, and she died on that battlefield. Her name was Malalai”

One day, Her father named Ziauddin saw the family tree that traced back for 300 years.

“There’s no woman that mentioned here. How can it possible?” He wondered. 

Then he took a pen, draw a line and wrote, Malala.“Then, who is she?”

She was Malala, the warrior with words. Malala Youfsazai did not celebrate her sixteenth birthday with a sleepover, but with a stand-up. Malala stood up in front of hundreds of young people and world leaders gathered at the United Nations to prove that words have power.

“We will bring change through our voice.” She said.

            

She asked every nation to make it possible for every child to go to school for free.

“Our words can change the world.”

Where did Malala learn what she could do with her voice and her words? “Let me tell you!”

Just before winter vacation, the Taliban announced that all schools for girls in the Swat Valley would close on January 15.

“All schools for woman and children are restricted since the announcement come out to public.  All those who violate will get a strict punishment.” Said the Taliban.

Many of Malala’s friends were afraid. Only 11 students came to a class that normally had 27 children.

“ I will not go to school. I don’t want to get killed.” Said Malala’s friend.

            That spring, when Pakistan’s army began fighting the Taliban, Malala and her family left the Swat Valley.

“Leaving home was like we would be apart from our heart, because our home was our heart. I had to leave my books and my bag and my school.”Said Malala sadly.

            When the fighting was over, Malala’s family returned to Mingora. Her father’s school opened again, but many other schools had been destroyed. Malala was sad and angry. She began writing and speaking out to everyone who would listen. Malala wanted to prove that peaceful words have power over violence.

On October 9, 2012, when Malala and the others was riding home from school, a man from the Taliban climbed on the bus.

“Which one of you is Malala?” ask the Taliban harshly.

“Say it to me! Or I will shoot everybody!”

The Taliban was very angry because they seem protecting each other.

“Get out of here. Everyone!”

            Unexpectedly, Malala came forward.

“I am Malala!” said Malala bravely.

“Doooor!!!!”Suddenly, Taliban shot her and two of her friends. Her friends were able to recover in Pakistan, but she had been shot on the side of her head. She was taken to a hospital in England that specializes in treating wounded soldiers.

“What we are thinking? She just a child! I should have stopped them.” Said Ziauddin sadly.

            Miraculously, Malala recovered with no injury to her brain. She spoke at the United Nations only nine months after she shooting.

“They thought that the bullet would silence us. Nothing changed in my life except this, weakness, fear, and hopelessness died. Strenght, power, and courage were born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the same. We realize the importance of light when see darkness. We realize the importance of our voice. When we are silenced. We believe in the power and the strenght of our words. Today is the day of every woman, every boy, and every girl who has raised their voice for their rights.” Malala declared.

            Malala and her brothers are now going to school in England. Malala is sharing her dreams and her words around the world. People around the world are answering with rallies, prayer vigils, and marches, singing, “I am Malala.”

With support from her parents and many other people, she started the Malala Fund to give girls hope for a better life. Forty girls in Malala’s beloved Swat are now in school because of the Malala Fund.

“My father only gave me name Malalai. He didn’t make me Malalai.”       

 

            Malala says her dream is to be a politician and help save her country. Malala is a miracle in pink. She is a warrior with words. She wants every boy and girl to stand up and speak out for the millions of children who are not able to go to school all over the world.

“Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are most powerful weapon. One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world.”

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