Malala’s Response
To all of the girls of Afghanistan,
I am terribly sorry to hear about the injustices being done to you. I am very sorry that your rights are being denied, and I am sorry that you have to feel like criminals to get something that you deserve.
I myself, have felt like this, but I want you to know that it is not your fault, but the society’s fault, the government’s fault and the world’s fault for turning a blind eye on this. I have felt the fear of being seen going to school, I have felt the fear of feeling like I was hurting my family when I was going to school , but one important thing to keep in mind is that you are doing what is right for yourself. Without an education, your future and the world’s future is going to be a dark, ignorant place to live.
Do not be afraid of the men threatening you, their nasty words will fly away with the wind, but the words that you are learning how to write will be engraved in history. Don’t mind the ones that are against you, but focus on those who help you achieve what you want.
I am aware that this is a big problem, and have talked and will continue to talk in the Malala Foundation meetings, to try to find a solution to this problem, or to at least make it easier for the girls of Afghanistan to get an education. Even though I will try to do the best I can, the government of Afghanistan has the biggest role in helping the girls of Afghanistan by building them schools and by educating the society that education is a right that all girls and all children deserve.
I will try my best girls, I promise, but I will also need something from you. Never lose hope and fight for what you believe in no matter what. When the whole world is silent, even one voice matters. One day, maybe not these days, but someday every girl in the world is going to have opportunities to have an education, and I hope you will be around to see it and benefit from it.
I will fight with all of my power, for all of my life, for every girl, for every child, for every human being, to get the education they deserve and I will fight for freedom against oppression.
But the parents have a say in this too. I understand that fathers in the Middle East, and especially in Afghanistan play a big role in their daughters’ lives, and I beg those fathers to see how important education is for their daughters and to let them get an education so they can become independent and to play a part on making this world a better place.
All of us must fight together to fight against the greater evil,
Malala Yousafzai.
I am Malala 