Malala Yousafzai is a young Pakistani woman. Supported by her father, she started an online blog when she was 11 years old. Malala's hobby had a serious objective, however. She and her family resided in an area under the control of the Taliban. They are a group of Islamic extremists who insist that girls receive only religious instruction. Malala wrote posts calling for full education for girls and young women. It was a concept that almost cost the girl her life.
By 2012, when Malala was fifteen, her audience had grown, and she was exceedingly well known in Pakistan. As a result, the Taliban designated her a target. One day, a gunman boarded the bus she was on and shot the teenage girl in the head. She miraculously survived, but had to endure a long and painful recovery. Despite the discomfort she went through, Malala did not lose her enthusiasm for school. She continued to speak up for female education.
Malala's tireless efforts and bravery brought her worldwide attention. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she is the youngest person ever to win the honor. In her acceptance speech, she said she was proud to be the first Pakistani to win the prize. Malala also joked that she was probably the first prize winner who still quarreled with her younger brothers. More seriously, she said the award "is for all those children who are voiceless, whose voices need to be heard."
Since her recovery, Malala has continued the fight on behalf of young people everywhere. She has spoken for the millions of children who do not get access to formal education. A fund set up in her name helps children around the world. For Malala herself, the dream to be educated has been realized, and she is studying at university in England. For many others, girls and boys alike, education remains a dream. Malala wants them to be given better prospects. She has become a powerful voice for those who need someone to speak for them.
馬拉拉．優薩福扎伊是個年輕的巴基斯坦女孩。在父親的支持下，她 11 歲就開始在網路上寫部落格。然而，馬拉拉的這項嗜好其實是有一個重要的目標。她和家人居住的地方受到塔利班的控制。塔利班是一群堅持女性只能接受宗教教育的回教激進份子。馬拉拉發表的貼文呼籲要讓女童及年輕女性接受完整的教育。這種主張幾乎要了這個女孩的命。
到了 2012 年，馬拉拉 15 歲時，她的聽眾增加了，而且她在巴基斯坦已頗有名氣。結果塔利班盯上了她。有一天，一個持槍的男子登上她搭乘的公車，並朝這個少女的頭開了一槍。她奇蹟似地生還了，但是必須忍受漫長而痛苦的復原過程。儘管經歷這些難關，馬拉拉並沒有失去對學校的熱忱。她繼續為女性教育發聲。
馬拉拉不以為苦的努力與勇氣為她贏得全球的矚目。在 2014 年獲頒諾貝爾和平獎的馬拉拉是歷屆得主中最年輕的一位。在她的得獎感言中，她說她很榮幸成為第一個獲此殊榮的巴基斯坦人。她也開玩笑說她可能是第一個還會跟弟弟打鬧的諾貝爾得主。言歸正傳，她說這個獎「要獻給那些沒有聲音，卻急需被聽到的孩子們」。
自從她康復後，馬拉拉持續為各地的年輕人奮鬥。她為數百萬沒有機會受正規教育的兒童發聲。一個以她名義設立的基金會正幫助全世界的孩子。至於馬拉拉自己，受教育的夢想已經實現了，她正在英國唸大學。而對於很多其他人，男孩女孩都一樣，教育仍然是個夢想。馬拉拉希望他們能得到更好的前景。對於那些需要有人替他們發聲的人，她已經成為強而有力的聲音。
